London, England’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed Baroness Martha Lane-Fox as Chair of a newly formed London AI and Jobs Taskforce. This cross-sector initiative aims to assess the impact of artificial intelligence on the capital’s workforce and propose actionable strategies to mitigate emerging skills gaps. The taskforce is set to include representatives from government, business, trade unions, education, and the AI industry.
The taskforce will delve into how AI is reshaping work environments in London, identifying both near-term risks and opportunities for employees and employers alike. It will also offer recommendations to bolster skills, safeguard employment pathways, and foster growth in the area. Khan is expected to roll out online AI training programs later this year to assist Londoners in enhancing their skill sets.
Khan commented on the initiative, stating, “Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping our economy and society. It presents real opportunities – from driving economic growth to improving public services – but also brings with it new challenges, including the potential impact on London’s labour market.” He emphasized a realistic approach to AI, acknowledging both its risks and its promising possibilities.
This announcement was made during the Bloomberg CityLab Summit in Madrid on April 28, 2026. Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, shared the news on LinkedIn, highlighting that AI is a critical component of the tech growth sector outlined in the Growth Plan issued by the Mayor and London Councils last year.
Lane-Fox, widely recognized as a co-founder of lastminute.com and a former UK digital champion who contributed to the creation of gov.uk, currently serves as Chancellor of the Open University and holds Non-Executive Director roles at Multiverse and British Airways. She noted, “London has always thrived by combining creativity, openness and reinvention. AI is bringing incredible opportunities, but also real disruption. This taskforce will look at where work is changing now, where London should lean in with more ambition, and how we make sure the benefits are shared more widely rather than felt only by those already ahead.”
Among the confirmed taskforce members are Anna Thomas MBE, serving as Deputy Chair and co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Work; Professor John Amaechi OBE, an organizational psychologist and founder of APS Intelligence; and Angie Ma, co-founder of Faculty, an applied AI company recently acquired by Accenture. Other members include Caroline Al-Beyerty, CFO of the City of London Corporation; Gaia Marcus, Director of the Ada Lovelace Institute; Adam Cantwell-Corn, AI and tech policy lead at the Trades Union Congress (TUC); and Sara Gorton, Regional Secretary of UNISON.
Thomas expressed her enthusiasm for joining the taskforce, stating, “I’m delighted to join the Mayor’s London AI and Jobs Taskforce at such a pivotal moment. This is the most important economic and social challenge of our era, and London has a unique opportunity to lead the world in AI for Good.” She underscored the potential of AI to enhance working lives and productivity across the board.
Ma also emphasized the importance of careful decision-making regarding AI, saying, “The prize of safe, widespread AI adoption is vast: cheaper, faster public services, rapid economic growth, and children better off than their parents. But that will only materialize if we make good decisions now – both to harness AI’s benefits and to mitigate the risks.”
Marcus, who previously spearheaded data-driven policymaking at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, reiterated the necessity of grounding AI initiatives in real-world evidence. “For AI to work for the diverse publics that make up London, it’s vital to look beyond the hype,” she stated. “We must instead examine the evidence of what’s happening on the ground, and explore ways to realize positive, pluralist visions for the future.” She is eager to ensure that people are prioritized in the taskforce’s decision-making processes.
The taskforce’s makeup signals London’s commitment to addressing AI not merely as a technological issue but as a leadership challenge as well. Amaechi framed the discourse around AI in London, stating, “The real question about AI in London isn’t what it will do to jobs. It’s what leaders choose to do alongside it.” He warned that the rush to adopt AI could outpace the necessary investment in workforce development, emphasizing the importance of informed leadership in this evolving landscape.
He added, “The choices London makes now, about where AI goes in the workplace, what ethical limits we set on it, and who carries the demand to adapt, will shape the skills Londoners build and the working lives they lead for years to come.”
Both the TUC and UNISON’s involvement in the taskforce signifies a broader effort to include organized labor in AI governance discussions. Cantwell-Corn reflected on the uncertainties AI poses for workers, stating, “AI presents significant uncertainty for workers, but unmanaged disruption is neither inevitable nor acceptable.” He stressed that the opportunity to ensure AI benefits all stakeholders remains attainable.
Al-Beyerty, the first woman to occupy the Chamberlain role at the City of London Corporation, noted the critical role of AI in shaping the city’s future. “London’s future will be dictated by advances in AI – and we need to be ambitious if we are to seize the opportunities of this evolution,” she stated. She looks forward to focusing on workforce transition and upskilling to prepare for an AI-enabled future.
Additionally, Khan has been invited to serve as a Founding Mayor of a new international Mayor’s AI Forum, launched by the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University. This forum includes other founding members such as the mayors of Madrid, San Francisco, Boston, Buenos Aires, Kyiv, and Bogota, along with the governors of Tokyo and Nairobi. Last year, Khan also launched the Inclusive Talent Strategy in collaboration with London Councils to help bridge skills gaps and connect Londoners with higher-paid roles in AI-driven sectors.
See also
Andrew Ng Advocates for Coding Skills Amid AI Evolution in Tech
AI’s Growing Influence in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation and Critical Thinking
AI in English Language Education: 6 Principles for Ethical Use and Human-Centered Solutions
Ghana’s Ministry of Education Launches AI Curriculum, Training 68,000 Teachers by 2025
57% of Special Educators Use AI for IEPs, Raising Legal and Ethical Concerns
