Eleanor Shearer and Matt Davies critique the UK’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI) under the Labour government, arguing that it risks reinforcing the dominance of major tech corporations rather than promoting public benefit. They highlight the government’s ambition to position the UK as an “AI superpower” and its efforts to foster “homegrown” AI companies. However, Shearer and Davies caution that this strategy may inadvertently entrench the market power of firms like Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia, which already control critical infrastructure such as data centres and chip manufacturing. They emphasize that the government’s current stance appears more deferential than assertive, potentially side-lining the need for democratic oversight and public accountability in AI development.
The authors argue that the absence of a coherent progressive vision for AI policy allows dominant tech firms to shape the discourse, leading to a scenario where the state becomes a facilitator of private profit rather than a steward of public interest. They advocate for a reimagined AI strategy that prioritizes democratized access, independent research, and ownership structures aligned with the public good. Such an approach would involve challenging the monopolistic tendencies of Big Tech and ensuring that AI technologies serve broader societal needs rather than consolidating corporate power.