Sadiq Khan's £12m AI Boost For Small Businesses Could Lead To New Innovations In Entertainment
Using AI, small businesses can run detailed market research and get hold of data that they couldn’t have imagined having access to in the past. This can help them come up with innovations that could attract a lot of interest.
Author:James RowleySep 08, 202694 Shares1.3K Views
London Tech Week was a hugely exciting event for the city, with various major announcements giving people a genuine reason to feel hyped about the future. One of the most notable of these was Sir Sadiq Khan’s promise to invest £12 million to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting AI technology.
This will be used in a variety of industries, but it’s particularly interesting to think about how it could impact entertainment. Perhaps AI could help level the playing field and allow smaller businesses to innovate and compete with industry leaders.
How to Use AI in Your Business in 2026
Khan’s Pledge Announced At London Tech Week
Khan announced the £12 million investmentat London Tech Week in June, and said that the funding would be spread across three years. The idea is to aid small businesses in adopting AI, rather than simply hand them money to purchase new software.
It seems that Khan’s administration may have realised that larger businesses with the money to splash on AI could end up widening the gap and making it even harder for smaller businesses to compete over the next decade. By putting up this investment, the mission is to reduce the gap and give smaller companies a chance. There will be expert mentoring and workshops, along with tailored guidance, meaning businesses that take advantage of it could set themselves up well for the future.
Why Could It Lead To Innovations In Entertainment?
Helping out small businesses in this way could lead to more innovation in sectors like entertainment. It’s an industry where, if a new company manages to come up with a solid idea, it stands a good chance of becoming successful. This has been seen with countless ideas over the years, such as Spotify transforming music streaming and Netflix changing the way audiences consume television.
AI could help people come up with fresh ideas that are likely to appeal to a large audience. For example, coming up with the next gaming crossover could be a huge hit. A recent invention in the iGaming market, Slingo online combines slots and bingo, meaning that it can reach players who enjoy both those game types. The introduction of branded titles such as Slingo The Godfather and Slingo Deadliest Catch helped it to reach even more people.
Using AI, small businesses can run detailed market research and get hold of data that they couldn’t have imagined having access to in the past. This can help them come up with innovations that could attract a lot of interest.
AI Will Help Small Businesses In Other Industries Too
The potential benefits of Khan’s investment will go beyond entertainment too, and help companies in countless other industries. For example, smaller retailers can use it to make personalised product suggestions in the same way that giants like Amazon do. Even restaurants could use the technology to understand what their customers prefer and make tweaks to the menu.
10 Ways Small Business Can Use AI Now and Why It Matters
With many smaller businesses and individuals rightfully worrying about the impact of AI in the coming years, it’s great news to hear that Khan is doing something to put smaller businesses on a more equal footing. Hopefully this will lead to some excellent innovations in the future.
James Rowley
Author
James Rowley is a London-based writer and researcher covering London life, cultural geography, London travel, live London webcam pages and selected public figures across entertainment, sport, business and public life.
For over 15 years, he has focused on verified sources, first-hand local context and clear explanations that help readers understand both places and people more deeply. His work combines street-level London knowledge with careful research into career credits, media work, business interests and, where relevant, transparently explained net worth estimates.
He writes and reviews articles published on LondonWebcam.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles