Keir Starmer has put artificial intelligence at the centre of his government’s economic and social strategy, telling London Tech Week 2026 that Britain must help shape the technological revolution rather than be shaped by it.
The UK prime minister described Britain as the world’s third-largest technology economy and said British start-ups had attracted nearly half of all European investment in the sector so far this year.
A key part of his address focused on child protection, with Starmer issuing an ultimatum to technology companies. He called on firms to introduce checks on devices to prevent minors from sending or receiving nude or sexually explicit images.
The government warned that it would legislate if companies failed to act.
On the economic front, Starmer announced a new strategy for national computing infrastructure, including around £400 million for the purchase of specialist artificial intelligence chips.
He also said 1.7 million workers had already received training in AI, while announcing digital teaching assistants for 450,000 children who receive free school meals and a new tool to help unemployed people search for work.
Source: ertnews.gr
