The UK’s consideration of a £2 billion national ChatGPT deal was a bold bid to gain a “first-mover” advantage in the global race for AI leadership. By becoming the first major nation to provide universal premium AI access, the UK would have set a global standard.
This concept, discussed by minister Peter Kyle and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, was about more than just technology. It was a strategic move to attract the world’s best AI talent, who would be drawn to a country that was effectively a nationwide laboratory for AI implementation. It would also have made the UK the default location for companies developing services that integrate with advanced AI.
Gaining this first-mover advantage could have created a self-reinforcing cycle of innovation and investment, cementing the UK’s position as a genuine AI superpower for years to come.
Although the government ultimately decided the financial risk was too great, the ambition reveals the strategic thinking behind its AI policy. The goal is not just to keep pace, but to make a decisive leap that puts the UK ahead of its competitors, even if it requires contemplating radical and expensive measures.