Mayor Steve Rotheram delivers inspiring vision at the Liverpool City Region AI Summit of 'AI working for the people'

MAYOR Steve Rotheram presented an inspiring vision of how AI:- 'would work for the people' to deliver better:- healthcare, smarter transport and thousands of well-paid jobs in the Liverpool City Region.

Speaking at the Liverpool City Region AI Summit, the Mayor told a capacity audience the City Region's quest to ensure technology:- 'helps people to live healthier, happier and more secure lives' was attracting global attention.

He said:- "We're building a future where technology works for people. Not the other way round. That's why we've made:- 'AI for Good' our guiding principle. It's simple really. Innovation that helps to improve lives, strengthen communities, and create opportunities. We've got the ambition, the brains, and the heart to make AI not just something that happens to people, but something that works for them. We're focusing on the real-world benefits: faster diagnoses in hospitals, smarter public transport, more efficient use of energy, and the creation of thousands of new, high-quality jobs. Jobs that don't just pay well but do good. Jobs that contribute to society."

The Mayor told more than 800 people at ACC Liverpool that US tech giant Kyndryl's investment that will create up to 1,000 jobs in the City Region was:- "proof that global companies see Liverpool as a place that's not just open for business, but open for innovation."

And he pointed to the launch of a £100 million Artificial Intelligence Materials Hub for Innovation, AIM HI, that will put the City Region at the forefront of the UK's next wave of AI and automation in materials science.

Building on the success of the inaugural AI Summit in 2024, the event brought together industry and academic leaders, cutting edge researchers and innovative businesses, to explore how AI can enrich lives and tackle some of the most pressing real-world challenges, while driving a fairer, more inclusive society.

It showcased Liverpool City Region's world leading AI expertise, while addressing ethical issues and setting out an inspiring vision for the future of:- 'AI for Good' in the UK.

Hosted by broadcaster Jo Coburn with support from multilingual AI-powered digital humans, the event heard awe-inspiring stories from scientists harnessing artificial intelligence to transform and save lives and included exhibitions from some of the UK's most exciting AI developments.

Keynote speaker Oxford University Professor Michael Wooldridge said the Liverpool City Region punches culturally and socially well above its weight and is:- 'embracing AI opportunities with the positivity that characterises this Region so well'.

Following his speech, the former University of Liverpool academic who presented the televised Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2023, said:- "Liverpool has always been at the forefront of things. What's happening here in the City Region in terms of AI is world class. AI is busy transforming the world at an unprecedented pace. We have enormous opportunities here in the Liverpool City Region and at the heart of that are our universities. There is an incredible base here."

The summit also heard from Mike Bracken CBE who was the UK's 1st Government Chief Data Officer. Originally hailing from the City Region, Mike travels the world supporting around 40 countries on AI and digital public infrastructure.

He said:- "Very few Regions around the world are doing as much as we are doing here. The Liverpool City Region is already doing great work. We are leading, we have great leadership and we have great values and we can be as good as anywhere in the world."

Dr Nicola Hodson, Chair of IBM UK and Ireland, told the audience how IBM's partner in the Region, the STFC, is looking to drive the UK's leadership in AI and Quantum technologies, by embedding them into real-world industrial and public sector challenges.

Representatives from Europe, Australia and the US added an international feel to the summit which also featured a video message from Mayor Tim Kelly, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was went from being America's dirtiest City to its fastest growing City through its early adoption of an ultra-fast municipal internet network.

Mayor Rotheram met Mayor Kelly at last year's Bloomberg CityLab in Mexico City - 7 years after meeting the City's previous Mayor Andy Berke, an encounter that helped inspire the creation of the LCR Connect full fibre digital network spanning hundreds of kilometers across the Liverpool City Region.

More than 200 students attended the AI Summit and took part in a special Youth AI Summit, on Monday, they also presented a letter to the City Region's new Chief AI Officer, Tiffany St James.

Combined Authority Chief Executive Katherine Fairclough closed the Summit as she told the audience:- "It is clear that the public sector has a vital responsibility to drive meaningful change by tackling problems at their root and placing the needs of our communities at the heart of our approach. The immense potential presented by artificial intelligence is matched only by the importance of collaboration. We must continue to work together, across organisations, sectors, and borders, to realise these opportunities and deliver lasting impact. We also recognise the rapid pace at which AI is evolving and are committed to embracing this momentum, ensuring that our work remains innovative, agile, inclusive and responsive to the fast-changing landscape."

Delivered in partnership with techUK and with a firm focus on:- 'AI for Good,' the summit featured panels and deep dive sessions on:-

• Productivity and Workforce Development.
  

• Health and Life Sciences.
  

• Education and Civic Data.
  

• Transport and the Environment.
  

• AI Driven Ecosystems.
  

• Ethical and Responsible AI.

Spanning 4 stages, the summit also heard awe-inspiring stories from scientists using AI to tackle cancers, monitor ocean health and climate change and transform society, while an exhibition area featured some of the UK's most eye catching developments in AI.

The summit featured speakers from headline event sponsor, the University of Liverpool, and Kyndryl as it brought together the brightest minds in AI and showcased Liverpool City Region's world leading artificial intelligence expertise.

University of Liverpool Vice Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said:- "We're delighted to be the headline sponsor of the Liverpool City Region AI Summit 2025. As a critical anchor institution, the University of Liverpool is committed to driving the Region's AI for Good agenda and supporting a day focused on innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact. Through our:- 'AI for Life' Research Frontier, we are tackling major challenges like climate change, healthcare, and digital inclusion - always with an emphasis on ethical, transparent, and community-driven AI. I am confident this Summit will spark new partnerships and inspire transformative change in a technology that is shaping the way we live and work."

The summit was supported by Liverpool John Moores University, LCR Connect, Quantexa, Connected Places Catapult and techUK.

Southport Liberal Democrats say NO to Labour's digital ID

SOUTHPORT Liberal Democrats have joined party colleagues across the country in opposing Labour's plan for mandatory digital ID cards warning that the scheme would threaten privacy, deepen digital exclusion and burden local businesses with even more red tape.

Liberal Democrats say the proposals will cost billions, fail to tackle illegal immigration and divert attention and resources away from fixing public services such as the NHS, social care and local infrastructure.

Southport Liberal Democrats have also raised serious concerns about civil liberties and privacy. Handing the Government control over a vast database of personal information is a recipe for misuse and mission creep. Once that data exists there is no guarantee it will not be expanded or repurposed.

The party also criticised the Government for:- "bringing in digital identity by stealth" through new Companies House rules requiring directors and business owners to undergo digital ID checks which they say is already creating extra paperwork for local businesses.

Cllr Mike Sammon, Cambridge Ward Councillor, said:- "Keir Starmer's plan for mandatory digital ID cards is not the kind of country we want to be. It will not make a dent in illegal immigration, it's anyone's guess how much it will cost and the new Companies House rules are already saddling our local businesses with more paperwork when they need stability and support. With snail-pace economic growth and businesses already being crushed by Rachel Reeves' jobs tax, the last thing we need is yet more bureaucracy and red tape. People should not have to hand over personal data just to go about their daily lives."

Cllr Lauren Keith Meols Ward Councillor, added:- "These plans risk locking people out of essential services if they do not have smartphones or digital access. Digital ID would hit older residents, disabled people and those on lower incomes the hardest, deepening the digital divide we are already seeing in towns like Southport. Instead of wasting a fortune on complex technology schemes, the Government should focus on fixing the basics, from supporting local health services to helping families with the cost of living crisis. Southport needs practical solutions not a Government pet project designed in Whitehall."

Liberal Democrats have pledged to oppose Labour's digital ID scheme "tooth and nail" just as the party successfully did with Tony Blair's proposals 2 decades ago.

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