The UK has announced a £58 million commitment to support artificial intelligence initiatives for developing countries at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, underlining efforts to ensure the benefits of the technology are shared more broadly around the world.
The funding is part of the UK’s AI for Development (AI4D) programme and will support projects aimed at boosting responsible innovation, improving access to computing infrastructure, and expanding AI systems to operate in more languages. Key initiatives include an Asian AI4D Observatory to promote governance and innovation across South and South East Asia, an AI4D Compute Hub at the University of Cape Town to broaden access to high-level computing capacity, and a Masakhane African Languages Hub to enable AI in around 40 African languages.
The announcement came as UK ministers joined global leaders at the summit, where the British delegation — led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan — outlined a vision for how AI can help drive economic growth, create jobs and improve public services both at home and abroad. Speakers highlighted the role of AI in tasks ranging from faster diagnoses in healthcare to personalised education and more efficient local government services.
Britain’s AI sector has attracted significant private investment in recent years, with more than £100 billion secured since 2024, illustrating strong international confidence in UK research, talent and innovation ecosystems. This summit builds on earlier UK-led events focused on AI safety and global cooperation.
The funding pledge reflects a broader shift in global AI discussions, with this summit emphasising impact and inclusion in the Global South alongside innovation and governance. Officials say the UK’s support will help ensure that developing nations can benefit from AI advances, democratise access to technology and build local capacity for the future.
Author: Kieran Seymour