In the AI Maturity Index, which examines a country’s strength of AI research, innovation, and learning, the UK ranks ahead of major European counterparts, including Germany (14th), France (23rd), Spain (28th) and Italy (29th), as well as China (39th), but still lags some way behind the US (4th). The top three countries for AI maturity are Singapore (1st), Denmark (2nd), and Switzerland (3rd).

In the UK, the AI sector grew 30 times faster than the rest of the economy in 2023. This has led to significant skills investment from British individuals, as workers respond to a 99% increase in employer demand for AI and Machine Learning skills. Coursera has recorded a 118% jump in GenAI course enrolments among UK learners this year, which is strong growth, but lags behind the global average increase of 195%.

Despite skills growth, AI gender gaps could damage equitable long-term industry development: just 28% of enrolees on GenAI courses in the UK are women, and only 34% of women are exploring STEM courses. Connected to the future success of AI deployment, cybersecurity skills need to accompany emerging technology growth, but these skills – critical for protecting a digital economy – have experienced slower growth (+6%), pointing to a need for increased attention in this domain.

Nikolaz Foucaud, Managing Director EMEA, Coursera said: “Starmer has promised an extra £1 billion in funding to scale the UK's AI computing power by 20 times, and Rachel Reeves has set out a £86 billion tech funding boost in the Spending Review, but skills development needs to accompany infrastructure investment for the UK to become an AI superpower, while systemic weaknesses in the UK’s skills landscape still require urgent attention.

“Efforts to ensure that the UK becomes an AI skills hub are only one part of the national need to close the broader digital skills gap, which is estimated to cost the UK economy £63 billion per year. Increased demand for AI development requires a simultaneous, and significant, increase in the talent supply. Our AI Maturity Index highlights the UK is in a promising position, ranking 13th globally out of 109 countries for AI readiness, but any ambitions at becoming an AI superpower demand improvements in AI proficiency across the UK workforce.

“We cannot excel in AI development with one hand tied behind our back. AI growth requires us to mobilise all of the resources at our disposal. This means fixing the emerging AI gender skills gap, investing in broader digital skilling – particularly in fields that complement the rise of AI, like cybersecurity – and learning lessons from countries excelling in these fields, including some of our European neighbours. We are at the beginning of a monumental change for the tech sector. With modern AI still in its infancy, the UK is well-placed to become one of the world’s foremost AI-driven economies, but these ambitions will flourish or falter on our ability to equip workers with the necessary skills.”

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