Is the AI Action Plan dead?
Plus Google hits out at the CMA.
Good morning,
It’s taken seven months, but The Morning Intelligence is finally on LinkedIn. Do follow if you’d like more photos of my desk.
Today's main piece was sparked by a search for updates about the AI Opportunities Action Plan. One senior government official told me soon after its launch in January 2025 that the document was "the Bible" for the government's approach to AI. Now it feels more like a bookend.
It is still referred to by civil servants, but it hasn't been mentioned by ministers in Parliament since June, there's been no update on its progress for 10 months and the latest funding announcements point to a different approach.
What if a great business idea felt less daunting to pursue?
AI is making it easier for entrepreneurs to turn ideas into businesses, helping with everything from building websites and creating content to managing everyday operations.
Shopify's data shows that businesses on its platform support 9.6 million jobs globally, including 479,000 in the UK.
For policymakers, it means economic growth doesn't just come from big businesses expanding, but from thousands more people being able to start something of their own.
Happening Today 📆
Safety speak: The Lords Communications and Digital Committee looks at the Online Safety Act’s impact on illegal harms at 2:30pm. Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Which?, Rys Farthing, Chief Research Officer at Reset Tech, Adam Hadley, founder of Tech Against Terrorism and Hannah Swirsky from the Internet Watch Foundation give evidence.
Not happening: Parliament ran out of time for a debate on AI risks in the Commons last night, after MPs spent a very long time talking about the performance of Royal Mail.
In today's edition:
📚 What's happened to the AI Opportunities Action Plan?
🚫 Google thinks the CMA's plan for choice screens is "unlawful", Microsoft and OpenAI disagree.
🏄♀️ The Cyber Bill passes the Lords unscathed
