Here’s what the Budget needs to do for the UK’s AI sector

UK-based StirlingX, a company specializing in drone operations and data intelligence, has successfully extended its seed funding round to a total of $11 million. This funding comes through a SAFE investment following an initial seed round secured earlier.

The UK chancellor's Autumn Budget has been positively received by startups, as it introduces measures aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to scale their businesses within the UK. This initiative addresses long-standing concerns regarding the support available for startups in the region.

Recent discussions highlight the potential of the human brain as a low-power model for the future of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in the development of large language models (LLMs). This perspective shifts the focus from AI's traditionally high energy demands to a more sustainable approach inspired by biological systems.

A recent survey by The ValueExchange indicates that 95% of firms in the UK have begun preparations for T+1 settlement, reflecting a significant shift towards enhancing operational efficiency in financial markets. Less than a third of respondents expressed uncertainty about their service providers' readiness to support this transition.

Rich Waldron, CEO of Tray.ai, emphasizes the need to distinguish between genuine advancements in agentic AI and the marketing hype surrounding it, highlighting the challenges CIOs face as they navigate vendor claims. He advocates for extreme bootstrapping as a viable strategy for startups in the AI sector.

A report by the National Foundation for Educational Research indicates that up to 3 million low-skilled jobs in the UK could be lost to automation and artificial intelligence by 2035, with trades, machine operations, and administrative roles being the most vulnerable.