John Healey says “we have to develop more data centres”, but warns against “free-for-all”
“I’m ready to back them if they provide the community benefits and can help build public trust.”
The chancellor John Healey has said that the UK needs to develop more Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres, but that we should avoid the ‘free-for-all’ approach taken in the USA.
Healey told The Times that AI can “lift Britain further” and that to for this “we have to develop more data centres”.
He went on to say that he would back the development of new data centres, provided they deliver community benefits.
Healey told The Times: “I want to avoid the free-for-all on AI and data centres we’ve seen in the States.
“So where NHS health data is used with AI, I want that data in Britain, not in data centres abroad.
“Where AI is used for our security, I want that data in Britain, for Britain, not abroad.
“To do that, we have to develop more data centres.
“I’m ready to back them if they provide the community benefits and can help build public trust.”
Data centres have proven highly controversial in both the UK and US. While they are crucial for the development and operation of AI, they have extremely high requirements for water and energy use.
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
Image credit: Simon Dawson / Number 10 – Creative Commons
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