London Tech Week is more than just technology showcase—it reinforces London’s status as a global tech leader and a hub for future innovation, business development, learning and career pathways. This year’s event started today drawing over 30,000 attendees from 125 countries. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the opening day focused on AI welcoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the stage to emphasise “AI’s potential to create a better future.” He unveiled a £1 billion investment in AI infrastructure and introduced “Extract,” an AI planning assistant powered by Google’s Gemini model to streamline the UK’s outdated planning systems. He also launched his “TechFirst” initiative, a £187 million program to teach AI skills in schools and train 7.5 million workers by 2030, preparing the workforce for future job opportunities.
Speaking alongside Starmer was Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, who praised the UK’s AI research community and the government’s commitment to harnessing technology for economic growth and social benefit. He also announced several strategic partnerships in the UK to enhance AI development. For example, collaborations with the UK government to help businesses in adopting AI (pledging to train 100,000 people by 2030); a partnership with the City regulator to ensure safe AI experimentation and with Barclays and Microsoft to open workspaces for 150 tech firms in London.
Following in the same vein, Anne Boden MBE, founder of Starling Bank, highlighted the importance of inclusivity in AI and the challenges faced by female founders in the tech industry. A fireside chat titled “Government as Product” explored the readiness of the Government’s digital services to meet the demands of the next generation, focusing on user-centered approaches and digital innovations in public services.
The Founders Stage provided a platform for early-stage companies to gain insights from industry veterans. Discussions covered topics such as scaling cloud innovation, the UK’s position as a startup hub, and the role of AI in driving breakthroughs. The Pitch Showcase offered startups the opportunity to present their business models to a panel of investors, seeking funding and recognition.
As we look ahead to the rest of the week, we’ll be reporting on the event’s daily developments and looking forward to hearing more on AI, quantum computing, digital transformation to important sectors such as healthcare, and strategies to address pressing issues such IT talent shortages. Stay tuned for more!
