Discussions unsurprisingly centred around the future of AI as industry and policymakers came together to forge a positive path forward for the UK’s tech sector
Separate panels voiced concerns over the ability of mobile networks to fully support technological developments
On 16 March 2026, techUK hosted its Tech Policy Conference 2026 in London. Discussions throughout the day touched on a variety of issues critical to the tech sector, from AI to digital sovereignty to energy. The opening panel focused on autonomous vehicles (AVs) and their regulation in the UK. Generally, panellists were well-aligned on the importance of an evidence-based approach to regulating AVs, with Claire Wren (Director, Future Transport Systems, DfT) calling for regulation to allow AV producers to “test and learn” with their new vehicles. The role of connectivity in this context was given a brief mention, with Dr Siddartha Khastgir (Head of Safe Autonomy, Warwick Manufacturing Group) stating that AVs would not be able to fully rely on mobile connectivity to function because of current coverage issues. In a later discussion on digital ID, Victoria Collins MP (Spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liberal Democrats) made similar criticisms of the limited 5G availability many of her constituents are facing (especially in rural areas), raising concerns over how effective any digital ID solution could be without improvements in connectivity.
The Secretary of State pledged support for AI while being mindful of the potential employment implications
Throughout the day, attendees heard from a number of politicians, all of which were flying their respective colours. Zia Yusuf (Spokesperson for Home Affairs, Reform UK) used his morning session to lament the “mad Ed Miliband” for his clean energy goals, while claiming that the UK would become “a vassal state for the Chinese Communist Party” under the current Government's approach to tech policy, particularly with respect to AI. However, despite this fear, Yusuf continuously praised China’s energy policies, urging the UK to follow suit. Liz Kendall MP (Secretary of State, DSIT), meanwhile, appeared keen to make her relatively progressive mindset known. Kendall exuded optimism for the development and wider adoption of AI in the UK economy, reiterating much of the Government’s rhetoric on the technology’s promise. Although, she did temper some of this optimism with a recognition of the "inevitable jobs transition” AI would bring, as well as calling for the strengthening of the UK’s own sovereign AI capability. Dr Ben Spencer MP (Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Conservative Party) shared Kendall’s excitement regarding AI, stating that he had fully bought into the hype around the technology. An audience poll revealed a more mixed picture, with around half of attendees considering that the potential productivity impact of AI was overestimated.
The issue of digital sovereignty has been too closely linked to protectionist policy
The final panel of the afternoon covered the UK’s digital sovereignty and how it can be strengthened while also driving growth in the tech sector. Panellists were broadly aligned on the state of digital sovereignty, agreeing that there is currently no clear definition or understanding of the term. Panellists agreed that the Government should look to adopt a framework for digital sovereignty, with Rahul Tyagi (Founder & CEO, SECQAI) calling for this to flex with the needs of the tech sector. Interestingly, all speakers placed particular importance on data sovereignty, but recognised the difficulty for businesses of maintaining perfect visibility and knowledge over where their data is stored and processed. Alvaro Garcia Delgado (Counsellor for Digital Affairs and Space Policy, EU Delegation to the UK) explained that the term ‘digital sovereignty’ had been overly politicised and associated with strong isolationism and protectionism, arguing this should not be the case, instead advocating that the UK focuses on attracting investment into the domestic tech sector.
