Tony Blair on AI
TL;DR
Tony Blair strongly advocates for the rapid adoption of AI as a civilisational-scale shift that will drive public value and growth.
Key Points
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) has advised the UK Treasury on deploying AI across public services as of February 2026.
He frames AI adoption as essential for productivity, growth, and achieving inclusive development, particularly for lower- and middle-income countries.
His institute advocates for governments to prioritize building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and state capacity as foundations for effective AI scaling.
Summary
Tony Blair strongly advocates for the widespread and rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence, viewing it as a general-purpose technology that represents a civilisational-scale shift offering substantial opportunity. Through his institute, he promotes a pragmatic agenda for governments, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, focusing on disciplined execution to translate AI's potential into tangible public value, such as improved public services. He argues that the greatest value comes not from competing at the technological frontier but from strategic deployment and strengthening foundational digital infrastructure to avoid dependency on foreign models and ensure inclusive benefits. His approach prioritizes anchoring AI transformation at the centre of government, building digital readiness, and implementing evidence-informed governance as systems scale.
His institute has been actively advising governments on AI deployment, leading to calls in the UK for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change to guide the government on injecting AI across public services. This work often focuses on system thinking, such as advocating for a National Data Library in the UK to unify fragmented data assets for AI consumption. While promoting adoption, he also acknowledges the need for governance to build trust, which he suggests should be sector-specific and evidence-informed, focusing on assurance and accountability structures around real-world deployments rather than abstract regulation alone.
Key Quotes
no other solution to productivity, no other route to growth
Frequently Asked Questions
Tony Blair is a strong advocate for the adoption of AI, viewing it as a transformational technology that can significantly improve public services and economic growth globally. He champions a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach for governments to leverage AI for public value.
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change actively works with governments worldwide to shape and implement their AI strategies, focusing on practical adoption and overcoming institutional hurdles. This has included advising the UK Treasury on injecting AI into public sector operations.
He suggests governments must strengthen central coordination, invest in digital and data infrastructure, and adopt a delivery-led approach to scale AI solutions. He stresses that AI must be embedded into core systems to avoid fragmented pilots and ensure sustained impact.
Sources6
Treasury calls in Blair thinktank to advise on using AI across public services
Delivering AI Impact: A Leadership Agenda for Turning Technology Into Public Value
Artificial Intelligence
Blair bids to build own AI tools to rival Palantir
Inside Tony Blair's Toxic Tech Lobbying Machine
Tony Blair's AI mania sweeps Britain's new government
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.