The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced its first artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, outlining plans to embed AI across the UK’s research and innovation landscape and confirming £1.6bn in funding targeted at the AI sector through to 2030. The strategy sets out how AI will be applied to accelerate scientific research in areas including healthcare, drug discovery, clean energy and public services. UKRI states that the strategy signals a commitment to significant investment in disciplines such as mathematics, computer science and engineering, which underpin AI development. Under the framework, UKRI identifies six priority areas for investment: (1) advancing AI technology development; (2) transforming research through AI; (3) developing AI skills and talent; (4) driving innovation to support economic growth and societal outcomes; (5) promoting responsible and trustworthy AI; and (6) building data and computing infrastructure. The strategy also includes up to £137m to support AI-enabled scientific discovery, with an initial focus on drug discovery and new treatments, and £36m to upgrade the University of Cambridge’s ‘DAWN’ supercomputer, aimed at strengthening national computing capability.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced a £4m research programme to develop data tools for earlier identification of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in children, delivered in partnership with the Department for Education. The Special Educational Needs Identification and Support Research and Innovation Challenge aims to roll out successful pilot approaches to schools by 2028, focusing on data-driven methods to enable earlier intervention and support for pupils. The research will explore how data can identify children requiring additional support sooner, enabling evidence-informed interventions to be implemented more quickly. The programme forms part of the government's £500m Research and Development Missions Accelerator Programme and supports the government's broader SEND system transformation agenda. The research initiative will ensure data is subject to rigorous data protection, safeguarding protocols and ethical approvals. Further details of the government's SEND reform approach will be outlined in a Schools White Paper early in 2026.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced the launch of the Cyber Security Research and Networking Environment NetworkPlus, led by the University of Oxford. This initiative, backed by a £6m investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, aims to bolster the UK's cybersecurity capabilities across various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, and law enforcement. The network will focus on how to achieve security by design and default, foster collaboration between academia and industry, and establish the first learned society for cybersecurity research.

The Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court (UKSC), Lord Hodge has provided a retrospective analysis of the impact of devolution and the Human Rights Act 1998 on the UK legal landscape. Lord Hodge highlights how these legislative changes expanded the constitutional roles of UK courts, particularly in interpreting devolved powers and implementing Convention rights. Lord Hodge emphasises the development of key jurisprudential principles, such as the 'mirror principle' in Ullah and the robust interpretative approach in Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza. The summary also notes significant changes to Scottish criminal procedure resulting from human rights challenges, citing landmark cases like Brown v Stott and Cadder. This reflection underscores the transformative effect of these legislative changes on UK constitutional law over the past quarter-century.

The Deputy President of The Supreme Court (UKSC), Lord Hodge, has given a speech at De Montfort University, Leicester on 30 November 2023 on the law and artificial intelligence (AI). Lord Hodge has discussed the need to adapt laws to recognise and regulate emerging technologies and the opportunities that new technologies present to improve the legal system and justice system.

In a lecture at Victoria University of Wellington, Justice of the UK Supreme Court (UKSC), Lord Sales examines the concept of the rule of law and its importance in the UK and New Zealand legal systems. He highlights the recognition of this principle in both countries' legislation, including the UK's Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and New Zealand's Supreme Court Act 2003 and Senior Courts Act 2016. Lord Sales argues for a formal conception of the rule of law, emphasising its inherent value and benefits across economic, political and moral domains. He also addresses the tension between the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty, noting that the resolution of this tension depends on each polity's political and legal culture. The lecture aims to contribute to the ongoing debate about the rule of law's definition and significance, particularly in the context of unwritten constitutions.

The first UK Supreme Court (UKSC) Justice appointed directly from academia, Lord Burrows, provides insight into the rigorous selection process for the court. The process, governed by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and subsequent regulations, involves open advertisement, a demanding application form, and an interview with a selection commission. Unlike the US system, the process is private and avoids questions on moral or political views. Lord Burrows also details the court's working practices, including extensive pre-reading of electronic bundles, the focus on points of law, and the challenges of specialisation. Burrows notes the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on court proceedings, which initially required remote hearings. This account offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the UK's highest court and the transition of a legal academic to a Supreme Court Justice.

In a recent address, Lady Rose of the UK Supreme Court (UKSC) outlined significant developments in competition and intellectual property (IP) law following Brexit. Lady Rose noted the potential for increased divergence between UK and EU regimes, particularly in areas such as state aid and subsidy control. The establishment of the Competition and Markets Authority and the Unified Patent Court were highlighted as key institutional changes. Lady Rose also emphasised the growing scrutiny of IP rights by competition authorities and the challenges of resolving international disputes involving standard-essential patents and Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) licences. The shift from EU State aid rules to the UK's new subsidy control regime was identified as a notable area of divergence, with changes to challenge mechanisms and assessment procedures. These developments signal a new era of legal complexity and potential divergence in competition and IP law across jurisdictions.

The Revised Rules for the UK Supreme Court (UKSC) have been laid before Parliament and are expected to come into force on 2 December 2024, together with new Practice directions. UKSC held an open consultation (now closed) on revising its Rules, which set out the procedure for legal proceedings before the Court. New rules 46-49 make provision for the new reference and intervention procedures brought in by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL(RR)A 2023). They relate to questions of assimilated case law, and to questions of retained case law so far as necessary.

The UK Supreme Court (UKSC) and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) have revealed further details about their forthcoming Case Management Portal and new websites, set to launch in December 2024. The Portal will digitise and streamline the filing and progression of Permission to Appeal applications and other legal submissions. Professional users will be required to use the Portal, while self-represented parties will be encouraged to do so with additional support available. Key features include electronic filing and service of documents, online payment options, and an 'Eligibility Checker' for self-represented parties. The new websites will interact with the Portal, enabling faster case information updates. Notably, Statements of Facts and Issues and Written Cases will be routinely published on the case page approximately one week before the appeal hearing, enhancing transparency.

The UK Supreme Court (UKSC) and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) have launched an informal consultation on reducing the page limit for written cases from 50 pages to 30 pages, with a 12,000-word maximum. The proposal follows the Supreme Court finding that some counsel treat the 50-page limit as a target rather than an upper limit, with instances of margins and font sizes being adjusted to circumvent it. Parties requiring longer submissions due to complexity may apply via the Portal. The consultation closes on 15 September 2026.

The UK Supreme Court (UKSC) and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) have introduced new websites and a new online case management portal. This digital platform enables registered users to submit and manage case information electronically, offering a range of functions including applications for Permission to Appeal, submission of case-related documents and payments, case correspondence, progress monitoring, and direct communication with the Registry.