The United Kingdom is making a significant push to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, announcing billions of pounds in investments. This includes £900 million for new AI research and innovation hubs, £100 million for AI safety research, and a nearly £500 million Sovereign AI Unit chaired by James Wise to build domestic capabilities. The government also committed £100 million to buy AI hardware from British startups and will provide up to £250 million in free compute power for researchers. A major part of this strategy involves creating AI Growth Zones, notably in South Wales, where a new data center campus backed by £10 billion from Vantage Data Centers is expected to create over 5,000 jobs. US AI firms like Groq, Perplexity, and Cursor are also investing in the UK, signaling international confidence. Across the Atlantic, the United States faces a different set of AI challenges, particularly concerning regulation. Washington state lawmakers are set to discuss a 2026 bill requiring public sector unions to bargain over government AI use if it impacts employee wages or performance, building on existing rules that mandate six months' notice. Meanwhile, former President Trump advocates for a single federal standard for AI regulation, arguing that state-level rules could hinder growth and potentially lead to job losses, a stance that has sparked debate among critics. In the competitive AI hardware market, Nvidia currently leads with its Blackwell GPU sales, but major tech giants are actively developing their own custom AI chips, known as ASICs. Google's TPUs are a prominent example, with some experts believing they rival Nvidia's GPUs. Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are also designing their own ASICs to power their extensive AI operations, a trend that began after Nvidia's GPUs became crucial for AI training following AlexNet in 2012. This internal development reflects a broader industry push for specialized, efficient AI infrastructure. Generative AI is seeing widespread adoption, with a PYMNTS Intelligence report indicating that 57% of US adults, approximately 149 million people, now use it. Millennials are leading the charge in productivity use, reporting over 70% satisfaction. However, generational concerns vary, with Baby Boomers prioritizing privacy and reliability, and Gen Z worrying most about job displacement. In terms of platform popularity, SimilarWeb data shows ChatGPT dominating with 571.85 million monthly active users, followed by Google Gemini at 126.39 million, which benefits from its integration across Google products. Other notable platforms include DeepSeek, Perplexity, Elon Musk's Grok, and Anthropic's Claude. AI is also transforming specific sectors. In wealth management, a survey by MMI and Broadridge highlights that 95% of firms believe AI will positively impact the industry, driving efficiency, personalization, and new product development like active ETFs and private markets. Education is also embracing AI, with Felician University partnering with Intraverbal AI to enhance its Applied Behavior Analysis program, using a vast database to provide feedback and create reports while ensuring ethical use and HIPAA compliance. However, the rapid development of AI is not without its pitfalls; FoloToy, a Chinese company, halted sales of its AI-powered dolls after reports of explicit conversations and dangerous advice, underscoring the challenges in controlling AI content. Similarly, Fitbit's new AI Health Coach, requiring a Fitbit Premium subscription and an Apple device, encountered early issues in its public preview, giving strange advice and struggling with 'memory expiration and persistence.' Amidst these developments, Wall Street analysts remain divided on whether the current AI market represents a sustainable boom or a speculative bubble, noting both strong business models among top firms and risks associated with high valuations and concentrated investments in unprofitable companies.
Key Takeaways
- The UK government is investing billions in AI, including £900 million for research, £100 million for safety, and a £500 million Sovereign AI Unit to build domestic capabilities.
- A new AI Growth Zone in South Wales, supported by £10 billion from Vantage Data Centers, is projected to create over 5,000 jobs.
- Washington state lawmakers will discuss a 2026 bill requiring public sector unions to bargain over government AI use affecting employee wages or performance.
- Former President Trump advocates for a single federal standard for AI regulation, arguing against state-level rules that could impede growth.
- Nvidia leads the AI chip market, but Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are developing their own custom AI chips (ASICs) to power their services.
- 57% of US adults (149 million) use generative AI, with Millennials leading in productivity use, while Baby Boomers worry about privacy and Gen Z about job displacement.
- ChatGPT is the most popular generative AI platform with 571.85 million monthly active users, followed by Google Gemini with 126.39 million.
- Wealth management firms are leveraging AI for efficiency, personalization, and new product development, with 95% expecting a positive impact on productivity.
- FoloToy halted sales of its AI-powered dolls due to reports of explicit conversations and dangerous advice, highlighting AI content control challenges.
- Felician University is partnering with Intraverbal AI to ethically integrate AI into its Applied Behavior Analysis program, using a database of over 40,000 articles for student feedback and report generation.
UK invests billions in AI research and safety
The UK Department for Science Innovation and Technology announced billions of pounds for AI. This investment includes £900 million for new AI research and innovation hubs. Another £100 million will go towards AI safety research. This move comes before the Spring Budget and aims to make the UK a world leader in AI development. It also focuses on ensuring AI grows responsibly.
UK launches AI Growth Zone in South Wales
The UK Government announced new AI investments, including a new AI Growth Zone in South Wales. This zone expects to create over 5,000 jobs in the next ten years. Vantage Data Centers will support this £10 billion investment and work with local universities. The government also named new AI ambassadors like Simon Johnson and Tom Blomfield. Additionally, British researchers and startups will receive up to £250 million in free compute power to train AI models.
UK invests billions in AI to create jobs
The UK government announced billions of pounds in AI investments to create thousands of new jobs. These investments aim to boost economic growth and transform local economies. AI Growth Zones, especially in South Wales, will drive AI development and job creation. The government will fund these efforts through market commitments and a £500 million Sovereign AI Unit. They also plan to support scientific discovery and subsidize startups and data center projects.
UK boosts AI with billions and new unit
The UK government announced billions in AI investment to create thousands of jobs and support domestic AI tech. This includes nearly £500 million for a new Sovereign AI Unit, chaired by James Wise, to build British AI capabilities. The government will also offer £100 million to AI hardware startups and free compute power for researchers. US AI firms like Groq, Perplexity, and Cursor are also investing in the UK. A new data center campus in South Wales, backed by £10 billion from Vantage Data Centers, will create over 5,000 jobs.
UK invests billions in AI to create jobs
The UK government announced billions of pounds in AI investments to create thousands of new jobs. These investments aim to boost economic growth and transform local economies. AI Growth Zones, especially in South Wales, will drive AI development and job creation. The government will fund these efforts through market commitments and a £500 million Sovereign AI Unit. They also plan to support scientific discovery and subsidize startups and data center projects.
UK backs AI hardware with £100 million
The UK government announced a new plan to put AI at the center of its growth. It includes a £100 million commitment to buy AI hardware from British startups. Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, said this aims to make the UK a world leader in specific AI areas. The government also launched an AI Growth Zone in South Wales with £10 billion from partners like Vantage Data Centers, expecting 5,000 jobs. Additionally, a £500 million Sovereign AI Unit will build British AI capabilities, and £250 million will provide free compute for researchers.
Washington considers union talks for government AI
Washington state lawmakers will discuss a bill in 2026 requiring public sector unions to bargain over government AI use. This applies if AI affects employee wages or performance. House Bill 1622, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Parshley, passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Opponents worry it could delay innovation and shift power too much to workers. Current state rules require six months' notice to unions before using generative AI that impacts jobs. The bill aims to make this requirement a permanent law.
Trump pushes federal AI rules over state laws
President Trump is pushing for a single federal standard for AI regulation, potentially stopping states from making their own rules. He posted on Truth Social, saying state overregulation threatens AI growth and that a federal standard is needed. This idea was previously removed from a bill but is now revived. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also suggested adding a 10-year ban on state AI regulations to the National Defense Authorization Act. Critics worry this move, possibly influenced by foreign investment, could lead to an AI bubble and job losses.
AI and new products drive wealth management growth
A new survey by MMI and Broadridge found that asset and wealth management firms are focusing on AI, new products, and better client experiences. These are key to growing the industry and attracting younger investors like Millennials and Gen Z. Firms see AI as crucial for efficiency and personalizing services. They are also developing new products, including alternative and ESG investments. The goal is to offer digital-first experiences and clear communication to meet evolving investor needs.
Survey shows AI and new products reshape wealth management
A survey by MMI and Broadridge reveals that asset and wealth management firms are using AI and new products to drive growth. Most firms, 95%, believe AI will positively impact the industry and improve productivity. AI is seen as most valuable for communications, research, and marketing. Firms expect strong growth in active ETFs, private markets, and separately managed accounts. This shift reflects a demand for more flexible and customized investment options.
FoloToy halts AI doll sales due to safety concerns
FoloToy, a Chinese company, stopped selling its AI-powered dolls after reports of explicit conversations and dangerous advice. Customers said the dolls engaged in sexual talk and suggested harmful actions like self-harm. The company announced the suspension on Friday to review its AI algorithms and content rules. FoloToy apologized and promised to add stricter safety measures before selling the dolls again. This incident shows the difficulties in controlling AI content and ensuring product safety.
Most US adults use AI Millennials lead productivity
A PYMNTS Intelligence report shows that 57% of US adults, about 149 million people, now use generative AI. Millennials are the most likely to use AI for productivity, with over 70% reporting high satisfaction. However, different generations have different concerns. Baby Boomers worry about privacy and reliability, while Gen Z is most concerned about job displacement. Common uses for AI include work tasks like drafting messages and research.
Fitbit AI Health Coach has early issues
The author tried Fitbit's new AI Health Coach in its public preview and found it had some issues. The coach, designed to help with fitness, sometimes gave strange advice or made odd assumptions. For example, it thought the author was at a work conference and adjusted workouts to be too slow even after the author recovered from being sick. Fitbit acknowledged these "memory expiration and persistence" problems in the preview version. The service requires a Fitbit Premium subscription, an Apple device, and a Fitbit device.
Nvidia leads AI chips but rivals build their own
Nvidia is currently the top company for AI chips, with its Blackwell GPU sales soaring. However, major tech companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI are now designing their own custom AI chips called ASICs. Google's TPUs are a leading ASIC and some experts believe they rival Nvidia's GPUs. Nvidia's GPUs became essential for AI after researchers used them for AlexNet in 2012. These powerful chips are crucial for training and running AI models in data centers.
Analysts debate AI market bubble or boom
Wall Street analysts are divided on whether the current AI market is a bubble or a long-term boom. Concerns grew as major stock markets faced pressure in November. Some experts see signs of a classic bubble, while others believe AI growth reflects real revenues and infrastructure building. Unlike dot-com companies, many top AI firms have strong business models. However, high valuations and concentrated investments in unprofitable AI companies still pose risks for investors.
Felician University partners with Intraverbal AI
Felician University is partnering with Intraverbal AI to improve its Applied Behavior Analysis program. This collaboration aims to ethically integrate AI into education and clinical research. Starting Spring 2026, ABA graduate students will use Intraverbal AI's database of over 40,000 articles and 1.2 million clinical goals. This tool will help students get verified feedback on case challenges and create insurance-ready reports faster. The partnership also ensures ethical AI use and HIPAA compliance, with trained BCBA professionals reviewing AI-generated treatment plans.
ChatGPT leads AI platforms in user numbers
New data from SimilarWeb shows that ChatGPT is the most popular generative AI platform, with 571.85 million monthly active users. Google Gemini ranks second with 126.39 million users, benefiting from its integration across Google products. Chinese startup DeepSeek has 61.62 million users, while Perplexity, an AI answer engine, has 61.28 million. Elon Musk's Grok, integrated into the X platform, has 39.57 million users, and Anthropic's Claude has 17.57 million. While ChatGPT leads, the market has several strong competitors serving different user needs.
Sources
- UK Government announces billions in AI investment ahead of Budget
- UK Government announces new AI investments including a new AI Growth Zone in South Wales
- UK unveils AI-related billions of pounds of investment to boost businesses and jobs
- UK government announces billions of pounds of AI investment including Sovereign AI Unit
- UK unveils AI-related billions of pounds of investment to boost businesses and jobs
- UK government to support local industry in £100m AI hardware purchases
- WA Legislature to consider requiring union talks over government use of AI
- A near miss could now become a full-blown AI policy disaster
- AI, Product Innovation, and Next-Generation Investors Set the Course for the Future of Asset and Wealth Management, MMI-Broadridge Survey Finds
- AI, Product Innovation, and Next-Generation Investors Set the Course for the Future of Asset and Wealth Management, MMI-Broadridge Survey Finds
- Chinese-Made AI Doll Sales Halted Over Sex Talk, Safety Risks
- 57% of US Adults Use Gen AI as Millennials Pull Ahead on Productivity
- Instead of an AI Health Coach, You Could Just Have Friends
- Nvidia is king in AI chips, but Google and Amazon want to catch up by making their own
- AI Bubble or AI Boom? SA analysts share their thoughts
- Where Education Meets Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Applied Behavior Analysis with Intraverbal AI
- These Are The Monthly Active Users Of Top AI Platforms
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