en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for the British economy in his opening speech at London Tech Week 2026, while warning tech companies to strengthen protections for children's online safety, or the government would push for legislative intervention.

In his speech, Starmer painted a "hopeful" future driven by artificial intelligence, stating that the government would neither completely shy away from technological change nor remove all regulatory guardrails, but instead choose a third path: supporting business growth, creating jobs, and building the economy of the future. He cited the example of a former soap factory in Warrington being converted into an AI data center to illustrate the technology's transformative potential in the UK.

Starmer noted that half of Europe's tech investment this year has flowed into the UK, positioning the country to lead this revolution. At the end of his speech, he announced the launch of a new AI-powered job search tool to help users find work, create resumes, and re-enter the workforce, while also unveiling a new strategy to develop sovereign computing capabilities, including a pledge to purchase dedicated artificial intelligence chips worth over £400 million.

However, Starmer also issued a stern warning to tech giants, stating they have not done enough in combating the spread of nude images and other areas of child safety. He called on tech companies operating in the UK to introduce device control features to prevent children from sending and receiving explicit images, and made it clear that if businesses do not take action, the government will amend the law. Starmer also referenced the dispute between the UK government and Grok, the AI platform under X, which has been criticized for allowing users to create explicit AI-generated images. He emphasized that the pace of technological change should not be an excuse to harm vulnerable groups, and the government will act swiftly and decisively when it comes to child safety issues.

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