On Monday evening, a major evidence session of the House of Lords APPG on Artificial Intelligence — of which I am an associate — took place, where it became clear that the question of British and European AI sovereignty is no longer an abstract policy debate but is rapidly becoming a central political priority.

The session, organised by the Big Innovation Centre under Professor Birgitte Andersen and chaired by Lord Tim Clement-Jones, brought together policymakers, academics and industry leaders to confront a stark reality: the UK is too dependent on foreign — particularly American — AI infrastructure, platforms and large language models. This dependence carries significant implications for economic resilience, strategic autonomy and long-term technological capability.

A significant contribution came from Josephine Kant of the newly established UK Government AI Sovereign Fund, an initiative designed to strengthen Britain’s strategic autonomy in AI. Its creation signals a broader shift in thinking — away from the assumption that global markets alone will deliver resilient technological ecosystems, and towards a recognition that public policy must play a more active role in shaping critical infrastructure.

Following the session, in a direct exchange with Kant, I raised the example of Poland’s PLLuM language model and the wider “Beyond” programme as a case the UK should examine closely — a point which drew particular interest. Poland’s approach shows how European countries are beginning to treat AI capability as a matter of national resilience and strategic importance. These efforts reflect a growing recognition that control over key digital systems is becoming an essential component of state capacity.

This is not an argument for isolation. The UK should seek structured alignment with European partners pursuing similar objectives. There is no contradiction between building national capability and engaging in international cooperation; in practice, the two reinforce one another. France’s state-backed AI strategy, alongside wider European initiatives, illustrates how public investment and coordination can accelerate capability while maintaining strategic direction.

Across Europe, governments are increasingly converging on the view that AI sovereignty underpins economic strength, security and political independence. The ability to develop, deploy and maintain critical AI systems is becoming a defining feature of modern state power

Recent geopolitical developments have sharpened this urgency. The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency has intensified concerns across Europe about over-reliance on external partners for critical technologies and defence. For the UK, this underlines the importance of building resilience while working with trusted allies.

Despite Brexit, Britain’s future remains closely tied to that of Europe. The question now is whether the UK is prepared to engage seriously with the emerging European agenda on AI sovereignty — contributing to it and helping shape it — or whether it will remain on the sidelines as others define the rules of the next technological era.

* Christian de Vartavan is an eminent scholar and now CEO of a London blockchain consulting company and Associate, APPG AI, House of Lords.