{"primaryDescription":"

There’s no escaping the hype, but what do British business and workers really think of AI?

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A key concern that has emerged over the last two years as BTC consulted with hundreds of businesses up and down the country is that the UK is lagging behind other countries helping business, especially small business, to adopt AI - with the risk that we are falling behind on the potential efficiency gains and losing in the race for competitive edge right from the start. 

","secondaryDescription":"

But a steady stream of embarrassing news reports about professional consultancy services producing error-ridden outputs, with invented references, shows the risks for some early adopters too.

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As Government announces a raft of new measures aimed at boosting development, uptake and use of AI in the UK, the BTC will test attitudes and approaches to AI with representatives of big and small business, and the public sector.

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What are the current real benefits of AI to British business, our health service and local government?

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What are the potential benefits we are not yet realising, and what are the blocks to making them real? 

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Is AI adoption in some sectors too dependent on large technology platforms? And what can we learn from the fact that micro businesses in the UK are using AI more than either small or mid-sized ones?

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What do we stand to lose? 

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Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “We can all see the excitement around artificial intelligence but what is less clear is whether enough British businesses are actually using it to improve productivity, cut costs and win new customers. We have heard growing concerns that while some firms are racing ahead, too many others, especially smaller businesses, are struggling to adopt these technologies at scale. If that is true, Britain risks falling behind competitors who are moving faster.

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\"At the same time, there are obvious questions about reliability, security and trust. Stories of AI systems producing flawed analysis, fabricated references and poor advice underline the importance of getting this right. Our inquiry will examine where AI is genuinely making a difference, what is holding back wider adoption, and what government and industry must do to ensure the benefits are spread across the economy. The challenge now is not just to invent the future, but to make sure Britain is equipped to maximise it.\"

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