Government ‘will start flogging your health data’ in new move to ‘turbocharge’ Labour’s growth plans with AI_Nhy
The Government is set to start selling patients’ health data in a new move to ‘turbocharge’ Labour’s growth plans with AI.
Ministers are getting ready to open up the UK’s log of NHS data to large tech companies in a bid to place the country at the centre of the worldwide AI revolution, The Times first reported.
The health service is set to make its collection of scans, biodata and anonymised patient records available to train new AI models, under plans to be announced by Sir Keir Starmer.
Ministers anticipate the move will be vital in putting Britain at the forefront of AI development, as well as bringing in billions of pounds of investment from US tech firms.
Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle insisted the government and NHS would ‘always be in control of data and how it is used and who has access to it’.
‘We will never give up control and we will never let anybody have free-range access to it,’ he said.
Later today, as ministers scramble to find ways to revive the flatlining economy, the Prime Minister will adopt a 50-point ‘action plan’ for Britain to make the most of the fast-developing technology.
He will announce new AI Growth Zones, starting with one at the home of the UK Atomic Energy Authority in Oxfordshire, where planning applications will be sped up to help firms build massive data centres.
Sir Keir Starmer will adopt a 50-point ‘action plan’ for Britain to make the most of the fast-developing technology
Ministers are getting ready to open up the UK’s log of NHS data to large tech companies in a bid to place the country at the centre of the worldwide AI revolution (Stock photo)
The UK will build a supercomputer with the power to play itself at chess half a million times a second, as part of a goal to increase the country’s ‘compute capacity’ 20-fold by the end of the decade.
A National Data Library will be created to ‘unlock the value’ of huge amounts of information held by the Government.
Last night the Times claimed this would include a trove of NHS information including old scans and anonymised patient records.
And an AI Energy Council co-chaired by Ed Miliband will be established to ensure Britain’s grid can cope with the power demanded by new data centres, including by driving investment in nuclear Small Modular Reactors.
Three major tech companies have committed to £14billion worth of investment in the UK to build the AI infrastructure the country needs, the Government said last night.
But the PM will also stress that AI will also help working people and even make them better off by cutting admin for teachers, spotting potholes on roads and diagnosing breast cancer in hospitals.
He has written to every Cabinet minister demanding that they drive AI adoption in their sectors while a new digital centre of Government is being set up in Whitehall to look for new ideas and pilot them in the public sector.
Sir Keir, who is agreeing to all 50 of the recommendations made by entrepreneur Matt Clifford in his AI Opportunities Action Plan that will be published today, said ahead of a major speech: ‘Artificial Intelligence will drive incredible change in our country.
The Prime Minister also will say that AI will help diagnose breast cancer in hospitals
AI will also be used for spotting potholes on roads, the PM said (File image)
The Prime Minister will adopt a 50-point ‘action plan’ for Britain to make the most of the fast-developing technology (File image)
Three major tech companies have committed to £14billion worth of investment in the UK to build the AI infrastructure (File image)
‘From teachers personalising lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record-keeping, to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people.
‘But the AI industry needs a government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and take action to win the global race.
‘Our plan will make Britain the world leader. It will give the industry the foundation it needs and will turbocharge the Plan for Change.
‘That means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services.’
And Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who faces having to hike taxes or cut spending if her growth plan fails, said: ‘AI is a powerful tool that will help grow our economy, make our public services more efficient and open up new opportunities to help improve living standards.
‘This action plan is the government’s modern industrial strategy in action. Attracting AI businesses to the UK, bringing in new investment, creating new jobs and turbocharging our Plan for Change.
‘This means better living standards in every part of the United Kingdom and working people have more money in their pocket.’
