Your round-up of the latest, greatest data stories

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UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer kicked off London Tech Week on Monday with a speech pledging that tech can create a better future for children. Well, as long as you don’t actually take those children to London Tech Week. The PM’s announcement launched a national skills drive that promises to give a million secondary school pupils the chance to learn and develop skills in tech and AI, as well as training 7.5 million workers in AI skills through partnerships with big tech firms, with Google, Nvidia and Microsoft backing the plan. Starmer, who was joined on stage by Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, told the audience the UK will become an "AI maker not an AI taker" as he announced £1 billion of extra funding for AI infrastructure in the UK. The government firmly believes that the UK is leading the way as a force in global AI, with the UK ahead in Europe in terms of AI startups and private AI investment. Elsewhere on Monday, two UK tech firms agreed takeovers by US rivals…

Finally, everybody’s favourite ping-pong match is over. The Data (Use and Access) Bill passed this week after much to-ing and fro-ing between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and many household names from the creative industries weighing in on the debate, including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Dua Lipa. But while the headlines were dominated by the heated debate around AI and copyright protection, the Bill presents a real opportunity to build a data ecosystem that works for everyone. Not uncontroversially, it changes the UK’s data protection framework, reforming the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), while establishing frameworks for sharing business and consumer data through smart data schemes and for digital identity verification. For our take on the Bill, what it could mean, and what secondary legislation could be in store, check out our blog. 

Meanwhile, it’s been another tough week in the creative industries. CEO of global advertising firm WPP Mark Read announced he will step down from his role, with shares in the company at their lowest in five years. The company is reported to have struggled in the face of competition from AI. The company recently produced AI-created adverts for high profile companies, and reportedly spend £300m annually on data, AI and tech in order to remain competitive. But they’re getting squeezed as the big tech firms hoover up around two-thirds of advertising spend. And now Meta is planning on rolling out AI tools to allow advertisers to create and target campaigns on their social media platforms. Elsewhere, the British Film Institute (BFI) has outlined nine key recommendations for the UK film industry to thrive in the AI climate. The BFI also said that AI plundering scripts poses a direct threat to the UK industry. Also this week, Disney and Universal filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Midjourney over its image generator, which the studios claim is a ‘bottomless pit of plagiarism’. Which itself sounds like a line from Star Wars about Mos Eisley. 

We’ve got a fascinating webinar coming up on Thursday 26 June, 12:00-13:00. Join Dr. Oonagh Murphy from Goldsmiths University and Owen Hopkin from the Arts Council England as they discuss how Arts Council England has been on a 12-month journey to develop policies and practices that support the responsible use of AI technologies. Tickets are free so get yours now. 

And finally…Google have some new tenants at their £1 billion ‘landscraper’ in London. Foxes. And not just in the grounds, they’ve taken up residence in the rooftop garden of the building, next to King’s Cross station, digging dens in the 40,000 tonnes of soil brought in to support 250 trees. Nobody is quite sure how they got up there. Probably didn’t take the lift.

David and Jo

From the outside world

Keir Starmer says technology can create a ‘better future’ as he addresses AI fears

The Guardian

Prime minister announces funding to boost UK’s artificial intelligence infrastructure in speech at London Tech Week.

Entrepreneur ‘humiliated’ after London Tech Week turns her and baby away

The Guardian

Davina Schonle prevented from entering event with eight-month-old and had to cancel meetings for tech startup.

PM launches national skills drive to unlock opportunities for young people in tech

Gov.uk

Pupils across the country will be given the skills and tools needed to get the AI-powered jobs of the future thanks to a new skills programme launched by the Prime Minister.

UK to become 'AI maker not taker', says Sir Keir Starmer

The Independent

NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang, who shared the stage with the prime minister at London Tech Week, predicted that in the next 10 years, "every industry in the UK will be a tech industry" because of AI.

Starmer opens London Tech Week with £1bn AI boost

Computer Weekly

Prime Minister unveiled plans to boost UK’s high-performance compute capacity 20-fold, along with funding to bolster skills.

UK tech firms agree takeovers as Starmer backs AI future

Sky news

The deals were announced shortly before Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer kicked off the annual London Tech Week, outlining the importance of tech and AI to the UK's prospects.

Data bill opposed by Sir Elton John and Dua Lipa finally passes

BBC

A bill which sparked an extraordinary stand-off between some of the UK's most high-profile artists - and their backers in the House of Lords - has finally been passed.

WPP chief Mark Read steps down as ad agency battles AI

The Guardian

CEO to leave global advertising group after three decades as shares lag at lowest level in about five years.

‘The death of creativity’? AI job fears stalk advertising industry

The Guardian

WPP and others roll out AI-generated campaigns as Facebook owner Meta plans to let firms create their own ads.

BFI outlines nine recommendations for UK screen sector in era of AI

Screen Daily

The BFI has outlined nine key recommendations for the UK screen sector in the face of rapidly evolving AI technology, in a report published today (June 9).

AI plundering scripts poses ‘direct threat’ to UK screen sector, says BFI

The Guardian

Film institute’s report raises fears AI will eliminate junior roles in film, TV, video game and special effects industries.

Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney over images

BBC

Disney and Universal are suing artificial intelligence (AI) firm Midjourney over its image generator, which the Hollywood giants allege is a "bottomless pit of plagiarism".

Google battling fox incursion on roof of £1bn London office

The Guardian

Foxes have ‘begun to dig burrows’ in soil of rooftop garden at the as yet unopened King’s Cross headquarters.

From the ODI

Creating task focussed GenAI assistants

Back in November 2023, we started a project with the Knowledge Media Institute at the Open University called Smart Assessment and Guided Education with Responsible AI (SAGE-RAI for short).

Data (Use and Access) Bill passes

The Data (Use and Access) Bill represents a significant and positive step forward for UK data policy, establishing a platform for innovation in data sharing and digital identity, but the true measure of its success will lie in implementation.

Data Ethics Professional #6: Responsible AI at Arts Council England

Free webinar, Thursday 26 June 2025, 12:00 BST book now

Join Dr. Oonagh Murphy, Goldsmiths University, and Owen Hopkin, Arts Council England, in this interactive session packed with practical learnings for anyone starting to shape AI policies and practices in their own organisation.

The Week in Data

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