UK risks falling behind in AI race without faster telecoms upgrades, say executives

'Things are going to change massively in two or three years when AI is integrated into everything,' said one senior executive. 'Things are going to change massively in two or three years when AI is integrated into everything,' said one senior executive. The infrastructure AI race has centred on the need to build datacentres, and to ensure they have access to the huge water and energy supplies required to cool and supply the computational power to train and run AI models. However, as adoption spreads, the UK's broadband and mobile networks will be expected to carry an immense volume of AI-related traffic produced by consumers and businesses. While the UK has addressed its previously embarrassing status of having one of the slowest broadband speeds in Europe, as BT's Openreach and other service providers cover the country with full-fibre connections, efforts to upgrade the nation's 5G mobile networks are not keeping pace.