The British Prime Minister has reflected on the impact of artificial intelligence across the UK, and insisted people should look forward to a "hopeful" future rather than seeing "something they can endure or battle".

Speaking at the opening keynote of London Tech Week 2026, Starmer said: "This is a revolution that Britain is uniquely placed to lead.

“Britain has every reason to be confident, we're on the precipice of something truly extraordinary.”

He noted that the UK was home to half of all European tech investment in 2026.

The Prime Minister explained how the UK government won't stick its head in the sand or totally remove AI guardrail, as they would rather explore a third option.

That route would see the UK "back the companies, create the jobs, and create the economy of the future, but never lose sight of who got us here".

Starmer referenced a former soap factory in Warringham which is being transpformed ino an AI data centre.

He claimed: “There are stories like this all over the country.

"They all speak to the same possibility, they give us a glimpse at an emerging revolution in technology - a revolution with the potential to transform lives, to strengthen communities, and create opportunities right across the country.”

However, he warned that tech companies in the UK need to take further action to protect children and prevent them from sending and receiving explicit content.

Starmer insisted the government "will change the law" if necessary, noting that "when it comes to the safety of our children, failure is not an option".

During his speech, he also unveiled plans for a new AI job tool to help people "find the right jobs, create their CVs and get back into work", along with other projects.

He said: "This government has made its choice.

"We choose to take control of our future, we choose to be ambitious about what Britain can achieve, and we choose to make AI work for the whole of our country."