Al will 'enhance' NE jobs not take them, says MP

Al technologies will enhance the jobs of UK workers rather than take them away, a Government minister has claimed.

- By JAMES ROBINSON

Science and Technology Minister Liz Kendall was speaking in the North East at an event to launch a task force to deliver the new AI growth zone.

Building on the success seen in Northumberland with a £10 billion datacentre set to start construction near Cambois, the growth zone could see up to £30 billion in investment involving some of the biggest tech companies in the world.

British firm Nscale will work alongside US giants OpenAI and Nvida to establish Stargate UK.

While AI investment has been welcomed, there is concern among some sections that AI could replace some existing jobs.

In fact, a recent survey by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found that half of all adults in the UK fear they could lose their job to AI.

But speaking to The Chronicle at the headquarters of tech firm Sage in North Tyneside, Ms Kendall said she did not believe that would be the case.

She said: "I would just tell you about how I have seen AI being used in practice, which is not about taking people's jobs, but about helping them do it better.

"I was at a local primary school where the teachers were using it to plan their lessons.