Kendall supports autonomous vehicles while Burnham's team hesitates.

      Britain’s technology secretary advocates for driverless cars and British AI startups, while the team of the likely next prime minister expresses skepticism, placing her own position at risk. Liz Kendall emphasizes the importance of supporting UK-based AI companies to prevent reliance on foreign firms. In a Sifted podcast, Kendall, who serves as the UK's science and technology secretary, made a strong argument for the adoption of driverless vehicles. “We need to support British firms in this field,” she stated, “or we will become dependent on American corporations.”

      Her warning targets a specific issue as London prepares for a robotaxi competition, with both Alphabet’s Waymo and China’s Baidu planning launches. She highlighted the British competitor, Wayve, as a “fantastic British success story.” This startup is set to pilot driverless taxis in London in collaboration with Uber later this year.

      Will there be a division with the incoming government?

      Her comments come at a pivotal time. Andy Burnham is viewed as the leading candidate for Britain’s next prime minister. Recently, the Financial Times reported that his team intends to overhaul the AI strategy, with his advisers expressing concerns about the driverless initiative potentially costing jobs for taxi and Uber drivers. This news has unsettled the UK tech industry.

      Kendall did not seek confrontation. She expressed confidence that Burnham shares her vision, noting that AI is central to his plan for reindustrializing the nation. However, she was clear about the stance on employment. “We’re not like the Conservatives from the 80s and 90s, who allowed entire industries to collapse and left people to fend for themselves,” she stated, adding that the government would assist workers during the transition.

      Kendall also spoke openly about her own career. She previously challenged Burnham for the Labour leadership in 2015. She mentioned her desire to remain in her role, but indicated that the decision lies with the future prime minister. “I genuinely enjoy this position,” she remarked.

      The theme of sovereignty was central to her message. She believes Britain ranks "genuinely third in the world" in AI, trailing behind the US and China, and wishes to protect that status. She referenced the £500m Sovereign AI unit, a £1.1bn plan for AI hardware, and a £2bn investment in quantum technology as evidence of this commitment.

      Kendall framed the issue as urgent, highlighting a recent US decision to limit access to Anthropic’s top models as a “wake-up moment.” Her response involves increasing sovereign control, with hopes of Britain joining the €5bn EU Scaleup Fund. “Stay tuned,” she advised.

      The significance of her statements lies in her acknowledgment of public anxieties. The host pointed out that tech leaders warn that half of entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear within five years. Kendall's response was not one of denial or despair. “The choice is between seizing the opportunity and shaping it to work for us, or being left vulnerable,” she commented. For now, however, her ability to influence this future remains uncertain.