Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop the necessary workforce skills to fulfil their plans for safe adoption of artificial intelligence across the UK economy.

The department is committed to creating a world-leading skills system which is employer-focused, high-quality, and fit for the future. We will continue our work to ensure that the education system is able to adapt to deliver upskilling and to provide the skills that learners need for the workplaces of the future, including jobs that will be impacted by, or require the use of, artificial intelligence. This includes increasing opportunities for people to develop higher technical skills through T Levels, Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps, and Higher Technical Qualifications, as well as enabling access to modular learning through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

The department is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) skills at all stages of education, including higher education. We are working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to deliver new postgraduate AI and data science conversion courses to boost skills and diversity in AI jobs. The government is also investing £117 million in doctoral training for AI researchers.

The department is also working with other government departments through the UK Science and Technology Framework to deliver talent and skills for five critical technologies, including AI.

This year, the department’s Unit for Future Skills is developing a Skills Dashboard to understand the supply and demand of science, technology, engineering, and maths skills to develop critical technologies like AI and quantum. This data will support improved access to relevant training.

Digital and computing skills will play an important role for individuals developing and using AI in the future workforce. The department is harnessing government and external expertise through the Digital and Computing Skills Education Taskforce to increase the number of people taking digital and computing qualifications and attract a diverse range of individuals into digital jobs.