The UK Labour government’s recently unveiled AI opportunities action plan will position the UK as a global leader in artificial intelligence by investing in infrastructure, talent and innovation. “A battle for the jobs of tomorrow is happening today,” said the UK prime minister Keir Starmer in a 13 January speech announcing the plan.
The government intends to “ramp up” AI adoption across the UK by expanding AI computing capacity twentyfold, creating AI growth zones to attract private sector investment, and developing the National Data Library to enhance access to data for AI research.
While the plan is not specifically focused on the art sector, professionals believe it could still have important implications for the industry. Caroline Taylor, the founder and chief executive of Appraisal Bureau, a fine art and digital asset appraisal service, says: “Starmer’s proposed investment in AI, particularly in initiatives like public data libraries and expanded AI infrastructure, will directly impact the art world. Accessibility and clean data provenance as outcomes of the initiative provide a safer basis to integrate the technology, which will likely reduce resistance in the markets.”
Reassurance, not revolution
For others, the government’s plans are more of a reassuring statement of direction rather than an immediate game-changer. A spokesperson for the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has just finished advertising for a pilot project using AI to tag and categorise data from its heritage projects, says: “Like many organisations, the Heritage Fund is considering how we can use AI safely and responsibly to deliver our objectives. This pilot scheme will enable us to test whether AI could help us get more insight and analysis from the rich data we hold about projects we have funded and enable us to learn more about how we do this using AI, before considering taking it further.” The spokesperson added that the National Lottery was also keeping “close track” of the government’s ambitions for the technology.
The government’s discussion of a “battle for the jobs of tomorrow” also resonates with those working in career development in the art market. Cat Manson, co-founder of the cross-industry programme Art Market Mentors, says: “Firstly we have applicants who are seeking advice on upskilling and reskilling to future-proof their value in the workplace as far as possible and stay ahead for themselves and their work—this includes interest and experience with AI to use it well and adopt early. Secondly we see a lot of requests for more IRL interaction, reflecting the very fractured, competitive nature of the art market, and with continuing barriers to entry we see people really wanting to find community and find connections.”
Taylor agrees. “The idea that ‘the battle for the jobs of tomorrow is happening today’ is relevant in every sector. While there are concerns about job loss, the reality is a transformation in the nature of jobs, driven by a shift toward efficiency.”
Other priorities
Nevertheless, despite optimism over the potential benefits of AI and the government’s commitment to developing infrastructure for it, the art market seemingly has other government support priorities, including ongoing calls for the simplification of red tape around anti-money laundering regulations and a review of VAT schemes. There are also concerns around generative technology, notably in the translation of copyright and authorship rights.
Carina Popovici, CEO and co-founder of Art Recognition, an AI-based art authentication business, says: “While I am confident that the market will continue to embrace these advancements, they also raise significant questions, particularly around copyright and authorship. The ethical use of AI is a critical concern in the artistic domain, arguably more so than in other sectors. It is essential that new policies address these issues.”
Despite these challenges, there’s confidence in AI’s potential to support, rather than replace, the creativity at the heart of the art world. Paul Hewitt, director general of the Society of London Art Dealers, explains: “I am confident that respect for artists and their human creativity will remain a cornerstone for art dealers. I am equally confident that AI will help enhance dealers’ capabilities to, for example, research provenance, authenticate works of art and analyse market trends. Generally, creatives have been early adopters of new technologies and will take AI with all its opportunities and challenges in their stride.”
