AI, TikTok and the future we choose.

Ten years ago, all of this would have been almost impossible to imagine.  Trump was an underdog presidential candidate, TikTok didn’t exist, and AI seemed reserved for science fiction.  Our political and technological landscape has undergone a rapid and radical transformation that I doubt any crystal ball could have envisioned. 

There is no better example of this than in the sudden emergence of DeepSeek-R1, a new AI system by Chinese company DeepSeek, that sent shockwaves through the tech industry and financial markets overnight. 

We should be prepared for similar phenomena to catch us by surprise in the coming years - and recognise it is how we manage these changing tides that matters.  Faced with sluggish global growth and looking for the next industrial revolution, leaders are starting to place their bets on AI while balancing the nerves from the public around its implications for jobs and data security. 

Deciding on a ‘correct’ route for the future of AI isn’t easy, especially when its development won’t wait for our chosen stance ‘for’ or ‘against’.

In a recent Camargue blog, my colleague Amelia Stayner debated the balance of caution and optimism for the year ahead.  I suggest that when it comes to AI, optimism is the only way forward.  AI has earned its place in the mainstream with its ability to simplify administrative tasks, bypass resource consuming activity and offer informed summaries on our forever growing list of complex issues. 

In the eyes of the public, the government hasn’t yet got a reputation for harnessing opportunity. Starmer’s decision to invest in AI is a step towards changing this perception while bolstering Britain’s status as a global leader.  This new AI initiative not only signals support for private sector AI companies, fostering growth and job creation nationally, but also benefits the public sector by saving time and resources.

Meanwhile, the US government faces a different challenge.  The TikTok app, downloaded by 1.5 billion users and valued at $200 billion, was shut down by the Supreme Court on the grounds of its Chinese ownership. In response, President Trump has pledged to find a way to keep it running after admitting a ‘warm spot’ for the company. 

Often guided by his own personal scepticism, Trump’s view is also inline with the beliefs of the wider public.  Users have been quick to admit that their concern for data security and the accusation that TikTok will ‘amass data on westerners’ can be overridden by their all-round adoration for the app.

Determining whether the decisions being made today by our world leaders are the right ones is impossible, particularly given the rapid pace of technological change and advancement. 

Starmer’s choice to back AI means he has to make the case and bring the public along with him – including potentially accepting risks that come with it.  Ultimately the proof will also be in whether the government puts its money where its mouth is and offers greater financial backing to AI in the upcoming Spending Review. 

Putting political bias aside, no one knows what the next ten years will offer with the developments of AI and wider technology.  However, one thing is certain: AI is here to stay – and who knows what other innovation might be just around the corner. Let’s put innovation first to expect the worst, but hope for the best.