AA comment on the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan

On 13^th January the Government published its AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to ‘deliver a decade of national renewal’, using the power of AI ‘to transform the lives of working people’. In response, Konrad Shek, our Policy & Regulation Director said:

“The Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan represents a significant step forward in positioning the UK as a global leader in artificial intelligence. AI is revolutionising every aspect of advertising – from strategy and creative ideation to production, media buying, and regulatory compliance. The advertising industry stands to benefit substantially from these ambitious proposals, particularly around data access, skills development, and infrastructure.

Through our AI Taskforce, established in 2023, we have been working to ensure the UK remains the world’s leading hub for AI-powered advertising and marketing. The Plan’s emphasis on cross-sector AI adoption and commitment to addressing private sector barriers directly supports this mission. The proposed AI Knowledge Hub and support for SME adoption are particularly welcome, as they will help companies of all sizes to embrace these transformative technologies.

What’s critical now is swift implementation, particularly around data regulations and talent development. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure these changes support both innovation and creativity while protecting intellectual property rights.”

The AA runs an AI Taskforce, chaired by VCCP and Google, with the key goal of developing a cohesive industry approach to AI. Their inaugural report included a twelve point ‘Checklist for responsible AI adoption’.