Universities set to drive growth as Government announces plan to turbocharge AI

The government has unveiled its AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to “turbocharge AI”, boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently.

The plan is backed by leading tech firms, who have reportedly committed £14bn towards projects. The new plan will lead to the creation of an estimated 13,250 jobs.

Professor Warren Manning, Provost of Innovation and Research at the University of Derby, said:

“It is universities where research and innovation into AI is being driven at the highest level. At Derby, we have close relationships with industry and are setting a blueprint for the future of HE through an accelerated joint degree with Rolls-Royce: Artificial Intelligence and International Business.

“Working with Rolls-Royce, we recognised early on the major impact artificial intelligence (AI) would have on the world. In doing so, we positioned ourselves at the forefront of innovation to prepare our students for this new world, launching a suite of applied AI BSc qualifications designed to dovetail with the needs of modern business.”

The government has outlined strong ambitions for the plan, with the aim of making Britain the world leader in the sector. If fully embraced, the IMF has estimated AI will boost productivity by as much as 1.5 percentage points a year, which, if fully realised, these gains could be worth up to an average £47 billion to the UK each year over a decade.

Professor Manning said:

“As the AI Action Plan picks up momentum, universities across the UK have the crucial role of equipping graduates with the skills, knowledge, and ambition to help design and build the world of the future. A focus the University of Derby has had for some time now.”

Professor Chris Bussell, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Derby, added:

“AI is changing our world. Just as machine technology impacted on our lives to create a world dominated by industry and machine manufacturing, the AI revolution will impact on human cognitive processing. It will change our future, how we work and what jobs we do, and how society lives, interacts, and thinks. Our job is to prepare young people to enter a future which is as different to today as the industrial age was different to feudal society.

“The rate of change is exponential, and every major industry will be impacted. Companies are spending billions of pounds on AI products and services. Our job in universities is to ensure that we prepare students to harness and engage that technology. So far, university curricula have focused on computer programming and big data. Derby introduced the UK’s first AI practitioner programmes aligned to industry sector needs in September 2024.”

Professor Bussell expressed the impact that AI will have across various industries, highlighting several key areas. For instance, how will big data impact on healthcare, on identifying disease and streamlining drug discovery, and how will a virtual nursing assistant be responsible for patients? How can HR specialists use automation and computer-based intelligence to assist with recruitment and staffing? And law makers will need to understand the status of AI-operated systems, such as autonomous cars, to decide who is at fault in a car crash – could AI be a legal entity?

He added:

“These are just some of the pressing questions students will look to explore alongside leading researchers at Derby. What sets our AI courses apart from other AI degrees is their applied nature, which will ensure that students graduate with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to understand, pre-empt and maximise the opportunities that this new technology will provide.

“Artificial intelligence has been described as the industrial revolution for human intellect and the exciting question for all of us is how do we prepare for a future which we cannot imagine?”

Find out more about AI courses available to study at the University of Derby.