Kendall supports autonomous vehicles while Burnham's team shows uncertainty.

      Britain's technology secretary supports the development of driverless cars and British AI startups. However, the team of the likely next prime minister has reservations, putting her own position at risk. Liz Kendall is advocating for Britain to support its AI companies before others take the lead. In a Sifted podcast, Kendall, the UK's science and technology secretary, made a strong case for driverless vehicles. “We need to support British firms in this technology,” she stated, “because if we don’t, we’ll become dependent on American companies.”

      Her warning was directed at a specific target. London is about to see a robotaxi competition, with Alphabet's Waymo and China's Baidu both planning launches. Kendall highlighted the British competitor, Wayve, as a “remarkable British success story”. The startup is set to begin piloting driverless taxis in partnership with Uber in London later this year.

      Is there a split on the horizon with the next government?

      Her timing is deliberate. Andy Burnham is the frontrunner to become Britain’s next prime minister. Recently, the Financial Times reported that his team aims to overhaul the AI strategy, expressing skepticism about the rollout of driverless vehicles, fearing it would jeopardize jobs for taxi and Uber drivers. This news has stirred concern within the UK tech industry.

      Kendall avoided confrontation, expressing her belief that Burnham shares her vision. She noted that AI is central to his plan for reindustrialization of the country. However, she clearly differentiated on employment issues. “We’re not like the Conservatives in the 80s and 90s, who allowed entire industries to collapse and left workers to fend for themselves,” she stated. Furthermore, she emphasized that the government would support workers during the transition.

      She also spoke openly about her own prospects, having previously competed against Burnham for the Labour leadership in 2015. She expressed a desire to continue in her role, but acknowledged the decision lies with the new prime minister. “I absolutely love doing this job,” she remarked.

      The focus on sovereignty

      Kendall's broader theme was about maintaining control. She believes Britain is “genuinely third in the world” in AI, trailing behind the US and China, and she aims to protect that status. She referenced initiatives like the £500m Sovereign AI unit, a £1.1bn AI-hardware plan, and a £2bn quantum investment as evidence of this effort.

      She emphasized the urgency of the situation, describing the recent US action to limit access to Anthropic’s premier models as a “wake-up moment.” Her proposed solution is to advocate for increased sovereign control, and she hopes Britain can join the €5bn EU Scaleup Fund. “Keep an eye on this space,” she stated.

      The significance of her message

      Kendall addressed the fears driving public unease more pointedly. The podcast host highlighted that tech leaders warn that half of entry-level office jobs could disappear in the next five years. Kendall's response was neither dismissal nor pessimism. “The choice is between taking control and shaping it for our benefit, or being at its mercy,” she articulated. For now, whether she can influence this shaping is beyond her control.