AI can be transformative for Birmingham's future

WHEN it comes to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), the Government has made its stance clear: The UK could and should be a leader and its AI Opportunities Action Plan, introduced at the beginning of the year, will provide a route to realise this.

- Andy Bostock

The plan recognises the transformative potential of AI in modernising public services by using technology to streamline processes.

As the public sector begins to make these changes, private enterprises in the West Midlands are already looking ahead.

KPMG's inaugural Private Enterprise Barometer, published in December, revealed that, of all the UK regions, private firms in the West Midlands are the most likely to be investing in AI in the future.

In fact, 83 per cent of those surveyed were already making these plans, compared to the national average of 73 per cent.

While it may seem challenging to keep up with the fast-moving opportunities AI offers, the most successful firms are those that see technology as an investment in their long-term resilience and growth, rather than a cost.

To unlock these benefits, it is important to introduce AI as a supplement to existing strengths, rather than starting from the ground up.

And this is where the Midlands' renowned manufacturing and engineering strengths can really shine.

Our region is ripe for AI-led growth.

We recently published a report with UKTN which found that AI investment in our pre-eminent sectors - manufacturing and engineering - will be essential if our region's tech sector is to reach its target of achieving a £100 billion valuation by 2030.