In the face of ongoing questions about the role of the biggest tech providers, a DSIT representative has suggested that the main issue is not the location of their HQ
Government’s dedicated minister for artificial intelligence has suggested that any risks presented by large firms dominating the market is “less as an issue of dependence on any single country, but… [one of] narrow supply chains”.
A recent report from the parliamentary committee that oversees the work of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology warned government of the dangers of “dependence on a small number of suppliers”. DSIT was asked by MPs to “produce a strategy to end vendor lock-in across the public sector, which includes targets for the diversification of suppliers across government departments and public bodies”.
Following the publication of the report – which came six months after several of government’s most high-profile providers suffered service outages – there has been increased scrutiny of the relationship between the state and big tech companies, and the dangers of reliance on a handful of major suppliers.
Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire recently asked DSIT what “assessment [it] has made of the level of dependency on overseas AI providers”.
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In response, AI and online safety minister Kanishka Narayan suggested that the geographical location of tech suppliers is not the biggest issue at stake.
“The UK recognises the risks that come with highly concentrated markets and the need to strengthen resilience in critical technologies,” he said. “We see this less as an issue of dependence on any single country, but rather an overreliance on narrow supply chains or single points of failure. Our approach is therefore about diversification, trusted interdependence and capability-building with like-minded partners and allies.”
Narayan added: “We will continue to use the best technology and welcome inward investment because that is what our public services and economy demand. We have made a decisive move towards backing more British AI companies, especially in areas where the UK can build and defend comparative advantage and where government can add value. We are investing £1.6 billion in the UK’s sovereign AI capabilities, with £500 million invested in UK AI firms via our Sovereign AI Fund, and £1.1 billion via our AI hardware plan.”