Artificial intelligence has already redefined what is possible in software, but the next true revolution will come from combining AI with robotics. We are about to see a massive industrialisation of AI. Until now, AI has mostly sat on the desktop. The next step is when AI is connected to machines, driving real-world action rather than just digital prediction. This is where productivity shifts from incremental to exponential.
However, while AI is transforming how we interact with software, it is unlikely to replace enterprise applications entirely. Platforms like Salesforce provide structured, and secure systems that are essential for managing complex business processes, regulatory compliance, and data integrity which are capabilities that AI alone cannot yet reliably offer. Instead, AI will augment rather than eliminate these systems, enhancing productivity and decision-making while still relying on the foundational infrastructure and workflows that software provides. The future is not software-free, but software-enhanced by AI.
When it comes to the evolution of AI, there is a real risk: if the UK and Europe fail to foster homegrown innovation, we are setting ourselves up for reliance on outsourced technology. That dependence is not just a question of who claims the credit for innovation. It means exposure to economic risk, security vulnerabilities, and the volatility of global supply chains. The politics of tariffs and shifting alliances have shown how quickly international relationships can change, making technological dependence an increasingly precarious position for any nation.
This is not a distant or abstract threat. If we fail to act now, we’ll find ourselves in a future where we’re buyers, not builders, forced to accept the terms, prices, and priorities set by others. Our ability to influence the direction of progress, or to safeguard our own interests, will be diminished with every missed opportunity.
Policymakers and business leaders must go beyond slogans and ambitions. Now is the time for real incentives: serious investment in manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and research for AI-powered robotics. The countries that act now will be the ones building the next era of industrial growth. They will be the ones creating jobs in a period of economic strain, giving their communities a route to future prosperity, not just survival.
Security Blind Spots
Recent history is packed with warnings about technological complacency. The Huawei 5G episode cost billions and delayed progress by years because the UK and its allies woke up late to the security risks of relying on externally sourced infrastructure. That was just phones and networks. The stakes with AI and robotics are far higher.
Today, the overwhelming majority of industrial robots are manufactured in the United States and China. If Europe does not develop domestic alternatives, we will have no choice but to import, handing over control to suppliers whose interests and standards may not align with our own. Every imported robot and every outsourced system represents a potential security gap. When robotics are embedded in everything from utilities to healthcare, this is not just about productivity. It is about the risk of backdoors, cyberattacks, and critical failures that could be triggered by decisions made far beyond our borders.
The reality is simple. Importing the future means gambling with sovereignty. The UK and Europe cannot afford to make the same mistakes again.
Policy Vacuum
Politicians find it easy to declare themselves champions of AI. But leadership in this field is not about bold statements, it is about action. The hard truth is that the UK and Europe are lagging. The massive breakthroughs and the real investments are happening elsewhere. Look at OpenAI, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. Their investment far outweighs anything in Europe. Platforms such as ChatGPT have gone from zero to millions of users in months. The scale and speed are unprecedented.
Regulation has not kept up. We are still relying on the technology companies themselves to set their own limits. That is not just a conflict of interest, it is a risk to public trust and safety. The longer we wait, the more deeply embedded externally developed platforms become, making it nearly impossible for local alternatives to level the playing field. The last time Europe tried to play catch-up, with companies like ICL or the French firm Bull in the early days of computing, it ended in irrelevance. The lesson is clear: if you turn up late, you do not get to shape the rules.
Jobs: Fact and Fiction
The comforting mantra that “AI will not replace your job, a person using AI will” is repeated constantly, but the honest answer is that nobody knows. The world’s biggest employers are already admitting that AI is so efficient they will slow hiring even as they grow. Amazon’s leaders have said as much publicly. Other technology giants are openly freezing recruitment for roles about to be automated.
This is much bigger than job losses in technology. As robotics and AI automate more functions, the very structure of business changes. Software vendors who charge per user will have to rethink their models as digital workers become the majority. Jobs will be reinvented, not just replaced. There will be pain, but there is also opportunity. If we are quick enough to retrain and redeploy talent, and smart enough to foster new businesses in these emerging fields.
The choice is clear: act now, and we can capture the benefits. Wait, and we will end up importing not just technology, but also the jobs and industries that go with it.
Specialise or Surrender
Let us not kid ourselves. Europe is not going to outspend the United States or China on AI. The giants have already taken the high ground. Once a dominant player emerges, they do not give it up unless they make catastrophic mistakes. Remember when Yahoo was the king of search? Google took over, and nobody looks back. The same story is playing out in AI.
Instead of fighting on every front, Europe needs to specialise. The UK, for example, is already a powerhouse in financial services, insurance, and pharmaceuticals. These are the sectors where we can leverage regulatory expertise and domain knowledge to build world-class, AI-powered businesses. It is about focusing on where we are already strong, and building on that foundation.
Chasing the dream of creating the next OpenAI is a distraction. The real win comes from applying AI uniquely and deeply where we have the talent, the data, and the infrastructure to succeed.
Time Is Up
The pace of change in AI and robotics is unforgiving. Businesses that hesitate will be left behind. Governments that dither will lock their economies into dependency. In this race, momentum is more important than perfection. Setting the standards and shaping the market only happens if you get there first. If you lag, you become a customer, not a creator.
Too many organisations are still dabbling in AI, experimenting without strategy, policy, or a long-term vision. That leaves a vacuum for consultants to fill, but it should be industry and government leading the charge. We need frameworks for integrating digital and human workforces, real manufacturing incentives, and a coordinated plan for investment.
The Real Stakes
This is not just about technology. It is about sovereignty, resilience, and the ability to shape our own destiny. Relying on imported AI-driven robotics and systems will not only erode national control, but also risk export bans, sudden tariff changes, or shifting political winds that can disrupt entire sectors overnight. As we have seen with recent supply chain crises, those who control the technology also control the terms of engagement. If critical infrastructure, public services, or even food production depend on overseas technology, every diplomatic spat or geopolitical shock becomes a direct threat to our way of life.
The stakes are economic as well as political. Nations that invest early and decisively in domestic AI and robotics will create high-value jobs, attract world-class talent, and develop new industries that underpin long-term prosperity. These countries will be able to set standards, shape regulation, and ensure that technology is used in line with their own values and interests. In contrast, countries that sit back will find themselves locked out of the most lucrative opportunities, forced to follow rules set by others, and at the mercy of foreign suppliers.
It is also a question of security and public trust. When essential services are powered by black box systems developed elsewhere, transparency and accountability suffer. It becomes harder to safeguard data, guarantee integrity, or respond rapidly to emerging threats. Domestic capability in AI and robotics is not simply an economic advantage; it is a foundation for a secure and self-determined future.
The social stakes are enormous. If we get this right, we can use AI and robotics to create new paths to prosperity, upskill workers, and revitalise entire communities. If we get it wrong, the benefits will accrue elsewhere, while we import not only technology but also the consequences of someone else’s priorities.
The choice is stark. We can shape this next era, or be shaped by it. The time to act is now, before the window closes and the next leap defines us instead of the other way round.
