Niels Footman and Matt Wilkinson

AI in the UK

Technology EN ↓ 30 episodes

There's some amazing stuff going on with AI in the UK. From its thriving AI startup ecosystem to its world-class universities, the UK really does have a lot to be positive about. But it faces massive challenges too – financing, regulation and the way it copes with the huge structural changes that AI promises to bring. Every week, AI consultants Matt Wilkinson and Niels Footman discuss some of the latest AI news, surveys and developments and offer context on how AI is developing in their homeland.

Author

Niels Footman and Matt Wilkinson

Episodes

Capital, Clusters ... Confidence? UK AI Heads Into 2026 22.12.2025 45:08

As one of our presenters reflects on an enormous life change, we discuss: - Two chunky funding rounds for UK AI startups hint at a more assertive role for the British Business Bank. - The UK Research Institute announces plans to shower £12bn of investment over strategic sectors — including AI and video games — over the next four years. But should the government be in the business of picking nation...

Episode 4: GEO Rising, Grids Straining, Governance Lagging 10.12.2025 42:38

Having blown past the notorious fourth episode at which 50% of podcasts supposedly fail , we discuss: - As two UK startups land substantial funding rounds for GEO/AEO-related tech, we ask: might this be an area of strength for the UK? And how proven is AEO anyway? - Two new UK academic reports highlight the mental-health threats of misused chatbots — and the government seems to be listening. - A n...

Episode 3: The Budget "Special" 29.11.2025 35:59

This week, hosts Matt Wilkinson and Niels Footman discuss: - What does the UK budget mean for AI? (Prepare to be underwhelmed) - A new report from the National Foundation for Educational Research suggests 3m "lower skilled" jobs could be displaced by AI, but the net effect over the next 10 years could actually be 2m job gains . So what's going on? - Reasons to be cheerful? Traditiona...

Episode 2: Investment, Antibiotics and AI Abominations 25.11.2025 43:40

This week, hosts Matt Wilkinson and Niels Footman discuss: - Ahead of the Budget, the UK government announces a broad range of AI investments, "AI Growth Zones" and regulatory changes — but is it all close to ambitious enough? - UK's big pharma firms using AI to accelerate medical discoveries - The perils of AI-issued financial advice - Why Paul McCartney and the people of Kingston U...

Episode 1: The Big Introduction 17.11.2025 30:22

Welcome to the first episode! This week we cover: - Who are we and why are we doing this? - The prompt launch of ChatGPT 5.1 in the UK and why other tools can take ages to get here - Early stage optimism v public market scepticism - CIPD data on AI's effect on the jobs market - Could AI be boosting Nimbyism?