Britain has 18 months to pick a lane, or lose the lead in AI

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US–UK momentum and fresh American capital give Britain a another shot at establishing AI leadership. The job now is execution: choose a stack lane, make services AI-first, attract global talent, and move faster safely , says Puneet Jindal

The UK has a rare chance to turn new investment into real AI leadership – not through glossy strategies, but operating models that scale value. With transatlantic investment and cooperation building, the UK has the next 12–18 months (through 2026) to turn headlines into exportable capability, jobs and productivity – or watch the capital go elsewhere.

Recent moves underline the stakes. Microsoft’s once-in-a-generation £22bn commitment to UK AI infrastructure through 2028 is a powerful signal – but it is only the begin