Dragons' Den TV star confronts Rishi Sunak in online event for business leaders

24 April 2023 , 09:14

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The PM was speaking at a Business Connect event when he was challenged by James Caan

Ex-Dragons’ Den star James Caan tackled Rishi Sunak over government support for the artificial intelligence “revolution” today.

The multi-millionaire businessman used an online LinkedIn Business Connect seminar to ask the Prime Minister why the Government was not doing more to back the technology.

The British-Pakistani entrepreneur, 62, who was a judge on the BBC2 search-for-a-star show from 2007 to 2010, told the PM: “The thing I hear the most, certainly on social media, is the current lack and shortage on artificial intelligence.

“More and more businesses around the UK today are trying to embrace the revolution we are experiencing right now.

“The challenge that we have, we just don’t have enough people to fulfil some of those requirements, and I think that’s where both business and government could work together because I think it could transform our economy.

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James Caan tackled the PM during a web forum (BBC)

“We just don’t have the talent right now to maximise the impact that technology could have on our businesses.”

The Conservative leader insisted ministers were creating master’s qualifications in AI, which experts predict could transform economies.

“I completely agree with you about the transformative potential of AI,” he insisted.

He urged Mr Caan to examine the Government’s “global talent visa where we have added AI to the categories which will allow us to bring the best and the brightest from around the world”.

He was a judge on the show for three years (BBC)

He added: “We are funding hundreds if not thousands of AI master’s conversion courses to get people into the industry

“We have got to be ready to take advantage of the opportunities of AI.”

Mr Sunak said the Government’s plans for AI, outlined in a White Paper published last month, would make sure safeguards were in place as the technology becomes more widespread.

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Ben Glaze