Generative AI is reshaping life and work across the UK, offering significant potential for economic growth and innovation. But without urgent action on digital skills, millions risk being left behind. Daljish Channa, Accenture’s corporate citizenship lead in the UK, highlights the need to address digital exclusion to ensure AI's benefits are shared across society.
The technology’s ability to simplify tasks, enhance creativity and aid problem-solving is already proving useful for individuals and businesses. Those with limited digital skills, for example, can now use AI to write job applications or manage personal finances—opening up opportunities that were once out of reach. Accenture estimates generative AI could add £736 billion to the UK’s GDP by 2038, provided it is deployed responsibly and paired with workforce reskilling.
Yet access remains deeply unequal. Workers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are far less likely to receive digital training or plan to acquire AI skills. The disparity is stark—these workers are nearly six times less likely to pursue AI skills than university graduates. Across the UK, 8.5 million adults still lack basic digital skills, highlighting a wider digital divide.
To tackle this, Accenture has launched the 'Regenerative AI' initiative, aiming to support over one million people in disadvantaged communities over the next three years. The programme combines access to devices and data with tailored AI literacy training, rooted in the lived experiences of local communities. The goal is not just access, but genuine confidence and competence in using AI.
The UK government is also acting, working with Accenture, Amazon and Microsoft to upskill 7.5 million workers by 2030. Through this partnership, high-quality training materials are freely available to support the country’s wider digital transformation.
Experts stress that effective training must be people-centred. It is not enough to provide tools—programmes must foster trust, relevance and mindset shifts. A recent report warns that unless delivery, skills and trust gaps are closed, the UK could miss out on £485 billion in potential economic value by 2038.
The stakes are high. The UK has a rare opportunity to nearly double its long-term economic growth rate through generative AI—outpacing its G7 peers. A £187 million 'tech first' programme and a growing portfolio of corporate initiatives suggest momentum is building, with a focus on extending reach beyond London and other tech hubs.
To unlock AI’s full potential, the UK must ensure no one is left behind. Collaboration between government, industry, education and communities is essential. By embedding responsible innovation and digital inclusion into AI strategy, the country can lead the way in building a more equitable, future-ready economy.
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Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative was published on 17 July 2025. A similar report from Accenture, dated 23 September 2024, highlights the UK's struggle to build AI skills in disadvantaged communities. ([consultancy.uk](https://www.consultancy.uk/news/38400/uk-struggling-to-build-ai-skills-of-disadvantaged-communities?utm_source=openai)) The earlier report also mentions Accenture's estimate that generative AI could add £736 billion to the UK's GDP by 2038. The current narrative appears to be an updated version of the previous report, incorporating more recent data and developments. This update justifies a higher freshness score but should still be flagged as recycled content. The earlier report was published more than 7 days prior to the current one. The current narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Daljish Channa, Accenture’s corporate citizenship lead in the UK. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes reveals that they were first used in the 23 September 2024 report. The identical quotes appearing in earlier material suggest that the content may have been reused. The wording of the quotes appears consistent across sources.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Consultancy.uk, a reputable organisation known for its coverage of consulting industry news. The report cites Accenture, a well-established global professional services company, as the source of the data and insights presented. The information is consistent with previous reports from Accenture and other reputable sources.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with existing knowledge about the UK's AI skills gap and the potential economic impact of generative AI. The narrative provides specific figures, such as the £736 billion potential addition to the UK's GDP by 2038, which are consistent with previous reports from Accenture. The focus on addressing digital exclusion and upskilling the workforce is a known challenge in the UK. The tone and language used are appropriate for the topic and region.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents updated information on the UK's AI skills gap and the potential economic benefits of generative AI. However, it appears to recycle content from a previous report published in September 2024, including identical quotes and similar data. While the source is reputable and the claims are plausible, the recycled content and potential reuse of quotes raise concerns about originality and freshness. Further verification of the updates and new data presented in the current narrative is recommended to assess its originality fully.
