In the coming AI future, Britain must not end up at the mercy of US tech giants | Rafael Behr
UK Science Secretary Liz Kendall warns that AI is the 'currency of the future' and cautions against British dependency on a few powerful US tech firms, advocating instead for cooperation among democratic 'middle powers' to build resilient, sovereign digital infrastructure. The article highlights growing concerns over technological imbalance, with US companies dominating AI development and wielding outsized geopolitical influence. Figures like Elon Musk and firms such as Palantir and Anthropic are cited as examples of private actors shaping global power dynamics with limited accountability. The piece argues that while Trump represents an era of 'analogue power,' AI-driven influence may prove even harder to manage.
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Liz Kendall, the UK’s science, innovation and technology secretary, on a visit to IBM’s London office in 2025. Kendall says AI is the ‘currency of the future’. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PAView image in fullscreenLiz Kendall, the UK’s science, innovation and technology secretary, on a visit to IBM’s London office in 2025. Kendall says AI is the ‘currency of the future’. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PAOpinionPoliticsIn the coming AI future, Britain must not end up at the mercy of US tech giantsRafael BehrTrump is volatile, capricious and unreasonable – but he belongs to the old world of analogue power. What comes next will be harder to manageWed 29 Apr 2026 01.00 EDTShareDonald Trump is not impressed by soft power. He respects hard men with military muscle.
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