Britons fear the UK is falling behind on AI as ICS.AI calls for a national Sovereign AI Charter
- ICS AI
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 31
Survey finds most believe Britain is unprepared for AI’s economic impact as ICS.AI proposes a charter and lobby group to accelerate responsible UK AI adoption
Basingstoke, UK; 30 July 2026: New research from ICS.AI suggests the British public believes the UK risks falling behind in the global AI race unless government and industry accelerate responsible AI adoption, with almost half (49%) saying the government is not moving quickly enough to prepare the country for large-scale technological change.
Its latest State of AI 2026 Survey of 2,000 UK adults also found that almost six in ten (58%) believe the UK is not well prepared for AI’s impact on jobs and the economy, despite growing confidence in the technology’s potential to improve productivity, strengthen public services and drive economic growth.
The findings come as wider economic concerns continue to dominate public opinion. More than seven in 10 (71%) say the cost of living crisis is their biggest current concern (up 7% on six months ago), far ahead of the risk of war (16%) and AI itself (13%). Looking further ahead, economic recession (29%) is viewed as the UK’s biggest long-term challenge, followed by fewer opportunities for young people entering the workforce (20%).
Against this backdrop, respondents increasingly see AI as part of the solution rather than the problem. Nearly half (48%) would now prefer AI-powered public services that deliver faster outcomes, up three percentage points from six months ago, while 40% already use AI regularly at work and 46% use it frequently in their personal lives.
When asked about AI’s biggest opportunity for the UK, respondents were most likely to identify economic growth and higher productivity (22%), ahead of better healthcare outcomes (16%) and faster, more accessible public services (15%).
Britain wants AI leadership
The research suggests the public is looking for stronger national leadership on AI with almost half (49%) saying the UK’s priority should be ensuring AI is trustworthy and well regulated. This compares with a quarter (24%) who believe developing AI domestically should be the priority and 20% who say affordability and effectiveness matter most.
Interestingly, in light of recent social media bans, two thirds (67%) support restricting AI tools for under-16s, rising to 72% among women.
Martin Neale, CEO and founder of ICS.AI, said:
“Britain has the talent, research capability and ambition to become a global AI leader, but our findings suggest that despite recent government initiatives, the public doesn’t believe we’re moving quickly enough. People aren’t asking us to slow down on AI, in fact, quite the opposite.
They want AI that helps grow the economy, improves public services and creates opportunities, but they also expect clear leadership and responsible governance. If Britain wants to compete internationally, we need to accelerate adoption while ensuring AI is deployed safely, transparently and in ways that genuinely improve people’s lives.”
Luke Murphy, MP for Basingstoke, added:
“The UK has an opportunity to be a global leader in AI, but success will depend on combining innovation with responsible governance, and that is the approach the government is taking.
I’m also pleased to see Andy Burnham has appointed the first ever AI minister to the Cabinet, which demonstrates the importance of the issue within government.
Initiatives that encourage collaboration between policymakers and industry, while focusing on practical adoption and public trust, will be an important step towards ensuring AI delivers tangible benefits for people, public services and the wider economy.”
Calling for a UK Sovereign AI Charter
Alongside the research, ICS.AI is proposing the development of a UK Sovereign AI Charter to help establish practical principles for responsible AI adoption and strengthen Britain’s long-term AI competitiveness.
The company intends to work with other UK AI businesses, policymakers and industry organisations to develop the Charter and explore the formation of a national action group that can make practical recommendations for accelerating AI adoption across the UK economy and public sector.
Neale added:
“Our ambition is to work with the wider AI community to develop a practical Sovereign AI Charter that gives government, industry and public sector organisations a common framework for responsible adoption while helping position Britain as one of the world’s leading AI nations.”
The findings are published as part of The State of AI 2026: Trust, Readiness and the Public Mandate, ICS.AI’s latest report examining public attitudes towards AI across work, public services and the wider economy.
Media contact: Leah Jones, ljones@thecommsco.com, +44 7876 117760
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