UK advisers call for domestic capabilities to secure AI sovereignty

Britain must urgently build domestic AI capabilities or risk becoming a “high-value AI customer” unable to shape the technology and its use, the government’s top science advisers have warned. The Council for Science and Technology said decisions made now would determine whether the country secures AI’s economic and public benefits while maintaining resilience and strategic autonomy.

In a letter to AI minister Kanishka Narayan, the independent advisory body recommended appointing a single government lead to coordinate sovereignty policy. It also called for investment in skills, data and computing infrastructure, alongside testing AI systems in national security, health and education. The warning comes as governments seek to reduce dependence on a handful of mostly US-based companies that dominate the technology.

The council said Britain should retain access to the world’s most advanced AI systems while developing domestic capabilities. Its proposals include exploring a publicly governed British AI model that researchers, startups and public services could use. The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.