AI will save UK public sector £10 billion in next five years, says Tony Blair

The UK's new Labour government has a unique opportunity to employ emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to blow the cobwebs off the British economy and set it on a path to significant growth, according to former prime minister Tony Blair.

In an address to the Future of Britain conference at the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) in London on Tuesday, Mr Blair said: “AI means there has never been a better time to govern.”

The new government has inherited an economy hobbled by anaemic growth, high taxes, government debt at its highest level for 60 years and high spending on public services that often perform poorly.

Getting up to speed with the highest international standards, including the innovation seen in the GCC region, would mean the UK harnessing effectively the 21st century technological revolution.

“Globally, countries across the GCC are investing a huge amount in this agenda, and have taken a leadership position in developing AI and deploying it in the field of public services, and they are especially well placed to take advantage of developments in this fast-moving area,” said Jared Haddon, TBI's Mena region lead on AI told The National.

Mr Blair added AI will enable advances which might have taken decades will “happen in a few years or even months” and that improvements in efficiency and the radical benefits, could be “truly revolutionary”.

“The simple and unavoidable truth is that unless we improve growth and productivity, and drive value and efficiency through our public spending, we're going to become poorer. Much poorer," he said. “This explains the mood of pessimism evident in much of the election campaign.

“But I do not share the pessimism. On the contrary, I don't think there has ever been a better time to govern. A better time to effect change. A better basis for optimism and a surer reason for hope.”

Specialists at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank, western Scotland, analyse images during an operation as part of a live trial using Ultreon 1.0 Software. Artificial intelligence is being used to help provide life-saving operations for heart patients. PA

'Significant and growing gains'

AI has been a hot topic in government circles for some time, and former prime minister Rishi Sunak held an international summit on AI safety at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire last year.

For example, the TBI outlines in its report The Economic Case for Reimaging the State that by enthusiastically adopting AI in the public sector, a fifth of the workforce can save time and money – money to the tune of £10 billion by the end of this parliamentary term and £35 billion by the end of the next,, or in 2034.

In addition, the institute predicted that preventive healthcare technology will deliver a triple benefit of “a healthier population, a healthier economy with more people in work, and healthier public finances”.

The TBI uses the example of a preventive healthcare programme looking at cardiovascular disease, which it said could result in an extra 70,000 in work (all paying tax and spending in the economy), as well as an annual savings to the UK Treasury of £600 million within five years and £1.2 billion after 10 years.

A digital ID has been put forward by the TBI as a 21st century solution to 20th century socio-economic problems in that it will speed up the access citizens can get to public services and save almost £4 billion in the next five years, because it will combat benefit fraud and improve tax collection.

On a practical level, if AI was used to pre-populate tax returns, £600 million could be saved every year.

The TBI estimates that setting up the infrastructure to run a digital ID system would cost about £1 billion and £100 million to run every year, but it would cover the set-up costs within three years, after which the system would raise just under £2 billion a year for the Treasury.

Looking further ahead, the TBI forecast that introducing AI into the UK's education system would increase GDP by about 6 per cent.

The TBI pointed out that the technologies, like AI, it is basing its forecasts on relate to the present day. Any advances in those technologies could result in higher savings and larger cost reductions in the years ahead.

“While the figures are speculative, the direction of travel is clear,” the TBI said in its report, “by investing in AI-era technologies today, the government can reap significant and growing gains in the future.”

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Price: from Dh850,000

On sale: now

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
Travel distance: Limited
Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
Duration: Can linger for days
Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
Source: Can be carried from distant regions

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Results

2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.

4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.

4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?

Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

COMPANY%20PROFILE

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

While you're here

Watch: Davos 2021 panel discusses the future of work for women

Alice Haine: Investing in gender parity 'makes good business sense'

Kareem Shaheen: How the pandemic could set Arab women back

Simon Rushton: Home schooling forces UK mothers to quit jobs

While you're here

Sholto Byrnes: Here's how this century can still belong to Asia

Brahma Chellaney: South China Sea is Asean's Achilles heel

The National Editorial: Territorial disputes require a mediator

In post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, hope turned into despair – but wheels are beginning to turn again

Bristol statue provides UK with a 'Saddam Hussein moment' in Black Lives Matter protests

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

Whiile you're here

Damien McElroy: Anti-science attitudes in America are proving lethal

Editorial: What makes the UAE such a good place to test vaccines?

Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Miguel Cotto world titles:

WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017

Batti Gul Meter Chalu

Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5

INDIA SQUAD

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

AIDA%20RETURNS

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAida%20Abboud%2C%20Carol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5.%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A