ABOUT THIS EPISODE
AI Will Replace Millions Of Jobs. Britain Has 3 Years To Prepare | The Policy Fix In this episode of The Policy Fix, Polly Mackenzie turns the tables on host Steve Rigby to discuss one of the biggest economic and political challenges facing Britain: artificial intelligence. Drawing on his experience as CEO of Rigby Group, investor and Chair of Family Business UK, Steve argues that AI is no longer a future technology but a present-day transformation that will reshape businesses, public services and the labour market. They explore why Britain has a narrow window to prepare for widespread workforce disruption, how government and business should respond, and why reskilling—not job protection—must become the priority. Steve explains the UK's opportunity to build sovereign AI capability, the importance of data centres, energy, taxation and regulation, and why delaying action could leave the country permanently behind. The conversation also examines how AI will change education, entrepreneurship and regional economies, the future of knowledge work, the role of government in preparing for technological change, and the policies Steve believes Britain needs to remain competitive while protecting workers through the transition. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:25 Why AI Feels Different This Time 04:05 The $23 Trillion Opportunity 06:20 Britain Is Sleepwalking Into AI 09:10 The UK's 3-Year Window 11:15 Why AI Sovereignty Matters 15:10 Will AI Replace Jobs? 18:05 Preparing For Workforce Disruption 20:15 Why SMEs Could Benefit 22:05 Which Jobs Are Most At Risk? 25:00 Planning For The Worst-Case Scenario 28:35 Why Schools Need To Change 33:30 Preparing Young People For AI 36:10 How Should AI Be Taxed? 41:10 Regulating AI Without Killing Innovation 46:05 Britain's Data Advantage 49:20 Steve's AI Policy Priorities 50:45 Three AI Companies To Watch 52:45 How Steve Uses AI Every Day 55:00 The Future Of AI Agents & Robots 56:30 Closing Thoughts
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