It is that time of year again where we reflect on who in the UK is the most and least prepared for AI. AI has been growing at rapid paces, and even comparing how it was used a year ago versus now, major improvements can be seen.
The SAS AI Cities Index for 2024 has been released, and they show some interesting insights. In case you aren’t up to speed: the SAS AI Cities Index is a study that is done every year by the SAS Institute that ranks cities outside of London based on how ready they are for AI’s advancements.
In terms of how this is judged, the index looks at aspects such as the number of AI-related companies. To be specific, they look at 7 different aspects:
1. How many AI companies does each city have?
2. How many universities offer AI courses, or courses that include AI in modules?
3. How many job vacancies are available per 5 miles?
4. How many AI events are held?
5. How many hackathons are held?
6. How is the Google search activity on AI solutions?
7. How many InnovateUK grants given per business in different locations?
This year, they’ve also looked at several other aspects. SAS elaborates, “For the first time, the study also took into account the rising demand for tools like ChatGPT, using insights to reveal the cities which have had the biggest growth in searches for generative AI.”
Who Is The Most AI-Ready This Year?
Based on all this criteria, the SAS has revealed who came out on top. Last year, Edinburgh was named most AI-ready. This year, the 2nd place spot, after London, goes to Manchester. The analysis showed that Manchester had the highest concentration of AI companies and related jobs within a close radius, and this was a contributor to its readiness.
The city, known for the popular football legends, has shown many AI-related job and schooling opportunities, with SAS reporting over 350 opportunities available. “Manchester has had a number of AI innovations and initiatives in the last year, including the Red Devils themselves, Manchester United, turning to artificial intelligence in April 2024. The football club is working in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, to help improve the performance of their men’s, women’s and academy teams,” says SAS.
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These cities may not have necessarily topped the list, but they did show major improvement as compared to last year. SAS refers to them as “The biggest movers”, and they are:
Salford, who moved 68 places
Winchester went up 36
Southend-on-Sea up 34
St Albans up 28
And Wolverhampton up 26 spots
“Salford, in greater Manchester, has climbed over 60 places to position 3, due to the huge amount of investment by InnovateUK. SAS research found that businesses have been awarded over £100 million in Salford – an average of over £14 million per business,” the report shared.
These are the top 5 least prepared cities in the UK…
1. Truro
2. Newry
3. Peterborough
4. Bangor, Wales
5. Hull
Why Does Research Like This Matter?
Cities who are the most AI-ready tend to be more prepared for threats and opportunities the macro environment brings. The world is quickly moving to a time where AI will exist in almost every industry. With this, cities should prepare themselves, to prevent the common fears of AI taking jobs. Learning to adapt and understand AI includes using it responsibly, and this can only be done through the combined efforts of businesses, individuals and authorities.
Glyn Townsend, the Senior Director of Education Services at SAS EMEA puts it perfectly, saying, “With 80% of UK organisations struggling to recruit applicants with suitable skills, if they do not have adequate tech talent, businesses face the challenge of how to remain competitive in an increasingly tech-driven world.
“And if they then cluster in regions and cities with talent, it could risk deeper regional inequalities. All cities need to be prepared to play their part – addressing digital and data literacy gaps, securing support to apply for investment, and ultimately, helping drive the future economy…”
