The UK government has taken another decisive step in shaping the nation’s artificial intelligence future, with Jade Leung appointed as PM’s AI adviser. Currently Chief Technology Officer at the UK AI Safety Institute, Leung will work at the highest levels of government to accelerate the AI Opportunities Action Plan and ensure Britain is at the forefront of the global AI revolution.
In her new role as AI Opportunities Adviser, Leung will work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s AI Opportunities Unit to turn the Action Plan’s recommendations into reality. She will report directly to both the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, splitting her time between Number 10 and the AI Safety Institute.
Leung takes over from Matt Clifford, founder of Entrepreneurs First, who has been a central figure in shaping UK AI policy in recent years.
From OpenAI to Downing Street
Leung brings heavyweight credentials to the job. At the AI Safety Institute, she leads technical work and testing for next-generation frontier AI models. Before that, she headed the Governance team at OpenAI, where she steered global safety standards, international cooperation, and regulatory approaches for advanced AI systems.
She also co-founded the Centre for the Governance of AI at the University of Oxford, worked in early-stage deep tech investment at Apollo Projects, and completed a PhD in AI governance at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
With such a mix of technical expertise and strategic vision, Leung is well placed to help steer the UK through both the opportunities and challenges of transformative AI.
AI to power growth, innovation, and public services
The AI Opportunities Action Plan is central to the government’s Plan for Change—a strategy to ensure AI not only fuels economic growth but also directly benefits citizens. Under Leung’s guidance, the plan aims to:
- Drive economic growth by boosting productivity and innovation
- Improve public services, from healthcare to education, with AI-powered solutions
- Ensure AI creates more opportunities for workers rather than replacing them
Leung will work with leading AI companies, world-class academics, entrepreneurs, and ambitious startups to make the UK the most attractive place in the world to build, scale, and deploy AI responsibly.
A global leader in AI governance
Her appointment sends a clear signal: the UK wants to be the go-to nation for safe, effective, and ethical AI adoption. This means not just inventing the tech, but also shaping the rules, setting international standards, and demonstrating how AI can be deployed in a way that benefits society at large.
As the government continues to roll out its AI Opportunities Action Plan, all eyes will be on Leung to help turn the UK’s AI potential into real-world results—balancing innovation with safety, and ambition with accountability.
“Image: Jade Leung appointed as PM’s AI adviser”
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