Call to embrace AI or 'be smashed' by it

1 day ago

David MacmillanNorth East and Cumbria, in Blyth

News image — Ian Lavery was speaking at a conference in Blyth

BBC Head and shoulder shot of Ian Lavery with short, close cropped grey hair. He is wearing a dark jacket over a cream shirt and grey and white checked tie. Behind him are a number of people seated in a conference room. — Ian Lavery was speaking at a conference in Blyth

An MP said a region needed to "embrace" Artificial Intelligence (AI) or be "smashed to smithereens" by the technology.

In September, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced that Blyth in Northumberland and Cobalt Park in North Tyneside were to be made an AI growth zone, boosting economic growth and creating thousands of jobs.

A conference in Blyth brought together experts and national and regional leaders to discuss A1's impact on employment, public services, infrastructure, and everyday life.

Ian Lavery, who represents the constituency for Labour, said that while there were still many unanswered questions, people can "shape" AI to make sure it benefits everyone.

He said: "It's coming down the track at a million miles-an-hour.

"We either embrace AI and shape it to make sure it benefits communities, or we get run over and smashed to smithereens."

Addressing the conference, at Blyth Energy Central Learning Hub Science, Research and Innovation Minister, Lord Patrick Vallance, said that "if we are to lead on AI, we need to lead on an energy system capable of supporting that ambition".

This included building the Advanced Modular Nuclear Reactors which are planned for Hartlepool.

'It's just mind boggling'

American company QTS Data Centres is building a £10bn campus at Cambois, which is expected to bring almost 3,000 construction jobs, and 400 permanent jobs when it is fully operational.

The firm's chief energy and strategy officer, Brian Herlihy, said the economic benefits would be felt far and wide in the local community.

"You go to our different sites, and you start to see this whole ecosystem grow round the data centres, whether that's universities or venture labs," he said.

"Ten billion, tens of billions, it's just mind boggling and a lot of that money gets spent locally.

"We hire local, we procure local and the hotels, the eateries, all start to participate from the traffic that's coming in from these opportunities.

"Ten billion goes a long, long way."

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