Top AI Companies in the UK
Last updated: January 13, 2025
Total Companies
25
Total Investment
£4.5B+
Avg. Founded
2014
Unicorns
8
Overview
The UK has rapidly become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), with a thriving ecosystem of startups, scaleups, and established companies developing and deploying AI solutions across various sectors. From revolutionizing drug discovery with AI-powered platforms like Exscientia to enabling autonomous vehicles with Wayve's innovative software, the UK's AI companies are making significant contributions to a diverse range of fields.
This comprehensive overview explores the top 25 AI companies in the UK, providing insights into their mission, products, services, and overall impact on the industry. The UK's landscape is characterized by its strengths in research and innovation, supported by a large pool of talent and strong academic institutions.
Key Sectors
- Fintech and Financial Services
- Healthcare and Biotech
- Cybersecurity
- Enterprise Software
- Autonomous Vehicles
Government Initiatives
The UK government has launched several initiatives to support the AI industry:
- National AI Strategy - A ten-year plan to make Britain a global AI superpower
- Substantial investment in research and development
- Support for AI adoption across various sectors
Companies
| Company ↑ | Industry | Founded | Location | Description | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BenevolentAI benevolent.com | BiotechnologyPharmaceuticals | 2013 | London | A pharmaceutical and biotech company that has developed AI and machine-learning technology designed to speed up scientific discovery. | Now trades on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange. |
Developer Tools | 2016 | London | A no-code AI platform that allows entrepreneurs and businesses to build mobile apps. | ||
Data & Analytics | 2017 | London | Develops AI software for human-centered decision making. | ||
Cera cera.co.uk | HealthcareTechnology | 2015 | London | Provides homecare, telehealth consultations, and prescription services, managed through a mobile app. | Secured £366m through nine rounds of fundraising. |
FintechPersonal Finance | 2016 | London | Provides AI-powered financial assistance and guidance. | ||
Cybersecurity | 2013 | Cambridge | Uses AI to autonomously detect and respond to cyber threats. | Went public in April 2021, raising £143m in its IPO. | |
Financial ServicesLegalInsurance | 2014 | London | Uses machine learning to extract information from documents. | ||
BiotechnologyPharmaceuticals | 2012 | Oxford | Uses AI to design millions of potential small molecule drugs. | Successfully floated with £226m raised on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 2021. | |
GovernmentDefenseHealthcare | 2014 | London | Provides AI solutions to governments and businesses. | ||
FinanceGamingSecurity | 2008 | Cambridge | Uses machine learning and analytics to prevent fraud in enterprises and finance. | Acquired by Visa in 2024 | |
Semiconductors | 2016 | London | Develops and manufactures chips specifically designed to accelerate AI and machine learning tasks. | Achieved unicorn status after four years of trading. | |
Financial ServicesFintech | 2014 | London | A fintech company that uses AI and automated underwriting to rapidly approve loans. | Valued at £3.02b, making it the UK's most valuable AI company. Available in over 16 countries. | |
Education | 2016 | London | Delivers training and upskilling content to subscribers, with the aim of closing the skill gap within businesses. | Raised £322m in equity. Acquired Eduflow and Searchlight. | |
Fintech | 2012 | London | A financial infrastructure platform that uses machine learning to help software businesses grow. | ||
Data & Analytics | 2014 | Manchester | Provides data analysis services for decision intelligence. | ||
PolyAI poly.ai | Data & Analytics | 2017 | London | Develops conversational AI for customer service and other applications. | |
Primer primer.ai | DefenseIntelligence | 2015 | London | Uses machine learning to improve communication and automate tasks. | |
Quantexa quantexa.com | CybersecurityFinancial ServicesGovernment | 2016 | Lambeth | Develops AI technology to secure organizations' data and flag illegal activity. | Attended both the Microsoft ScaleUp accelerator and Tech Nation’s Future Fifty accelerator. |
Speechmatics speechmatics.com | MediaEducation | 2006 | Cambridge | Provides automatic speech recognition technology. | |
Streetbees streetbees.com | Market ResearchConsumer Goods | 2015 | London | Uses AI to gather and analyze consumer insights. | |
Synthesia synthesia.io | MarketingAdvertisingEducation | 2016 | London | A text-to-video AI software company that creates videos with AI avatars and voiceovers. | Raised £121m in equity. |
Thought Machine thoughtmachine.net | Financial ServicesFintech | 2011 | London | Develops fintech software Vault, which enables banks and financial services providers to centrally manage a range of products. | |
Tractable tractable.ai | InsuranceAutomotive | 2014 | London | Uses AI to automate tasks in the insurance and automotive industries. | Tractable has raised a total of $129.1M in funding over 9 rounds. Their latest funding was raised on Jul 12, 2023, from a Series E round. |
Wayve wayve.ai | Automotive | 2017 | London | Develops software for self-driving cars using AI and machine learning. | Raised £825.9m in equity funding. |
BenevolentAI
benevolent.comDescription
A pharmaceutical and biotech company that has developed AI and machine-learning technology designed to speed up scientific discovery.
Notable Achievements
Now trades on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange.
Builder.ai
builder.aiDescription
A no-code AI platform that allows entrepreneurs and businesses to build mobile apps.
Notable Achievements
CausaLens
causalens.comDescription
Develops AI software for human-centered decision making.
Notable Achievements
Cera
cera.co.ukDescription
Provides homecare, telehealth consultations, and prescription services, managed through a mobile app.
Notable Achievements
Secured £366m through nine rounds of fundraising.
Cleo
meetcleo.comDescription
Provides AI-powered financial assistance and guidance.
Notable Achievements
Darktrace
darktrace.comDescription
Uses AI to autonomously detect and respond to cyber threats.
Notable Achievements
Went public in April 2021, raising £143m in its IPO.
Eigen Technologies
eigentech.comDescription
Uses machine learning to extract information from documents.
Notable Achievements
Exscientia
exscientia.aiDescription
Uses AI to design millions of potential small molecule drugs.
Notable Achievements
Successfully floated with £226m raised on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 2021.
Faculty
faculty.aiDescription
Provides AI solutions to governments and businesses.
Notable Achievements
Featurespace
featurespace.comDescription
Uses machine learning and analytics to prevent fraud in enterprises and finance.
Notable Achievements
Acquired by Visa in 2024
Graphcore
graphcore.aiDescription
Develops and manufactures chips specifically designed to accelerate AI and machine learning tasks.
Notable Achievements
Achieved unicorn status after four years of trading.
Lendable
lendable.co.ukDescription
A fintech company that uses AI and automated underwriting to rapidly approve loans.
Notable Achievements
Valued at £3.02b, making it the UK's most valuable AI company. Available in over 16 countries.
Multiverse
multiverse.ioDescription
Delivers training and upskilling content to subscribers, with the aim of closing the skill gap within businesses.
Notable Achievements
Raised £322m in equity. Acquired Eduflow and Searchlight.
Paddle
paddle.comDescription
A financial infrastructure platform that uses machine learning to help software businesses grow.
Notable Achievements
Peak
peak.aiDescription
Provides data analysis services for decision intelligence.
Notable Achievements
PolyAI
poly.aiDescription
Develops conversational AI for customer service and other applications.
Notable Achievements
Primer
primer.aiDescription
Uses machine learning to improve communication and automate tasks.
Notable Achievements
Quantexa
quantexa.comDescription
Develops AI technology to secure organizations' data and flag illegal activity.
Notable Achievements
Attended both the Microsoft ScaleUp accelerator and Tech Nation’s Future Fifty accelerator.
Speechmatics
speechmatics.comDescription
Provides automatic speech recognition technology.
Notable Achievements
Streetbees
streetbees.comDescription
Uses AI to gather and analyze consumer insights.
Notable Achievements
Synthesia
synthesia.ioDescription
A text-to-video AI software company that creates videos with AI avatars and voiceovers.
Notable Achievements
Raised £121m in equity.
Thought Machine
thoughtmachine.netDescription
Develops fintech software Vault, which enables banks and financial services providers to centrally manage a range of products.
Notable Achievements
Tractable
tractable.aiDescription
Uses AI to automate tasks in the insurance and automotive industries.
Notable Achievements
Tractable has raised a total of $129.1M in funding over 9 rounds. Their latest funding was raised on Jul 12, 2023, from a Series E round.
Wayve
wayve.aiDescription
Develops software for self-driving cars using AI and machine learning.
Notable Achievements
Raised £825.9m in equity funding.
The Future of AI in the UK
The future of AI in the UK is bright. The UK is already the third largest AI market in the world and is home to many pioneering AI firms. With continued investment, research, and development, these companies are poised to make significant contributions to the global AI landscape. The potential impact of AI on the UK economy is substantial, with estimates suggesting it could boost GDP by £550 billion by 2035. Studies suggest that sectors more exposed to AI are seeing an almost fivefold increase in the rate of productivity growth globally. In the UK, this uptick in productivity in sectors such as financial services, information technology, and professional services is slightly above the global average. With long-term productivity issues a hindrance to UK economic growth, AI could therefore help to bridge the gap with other nations, leading to increased prosperity and better living standards.
However, it is crucial to address the challenges of responsible AI development, ensuring fairness, transparency, and ethical considerations are at the forefront of innovation. This includes mitigating the risks associated with AI, such as the potential impact on the energy grid. The increasing demand for AI, especially from data centers, is set to increase electricity consumption dramatically. To address this, the UK will need to invest in a more robust electricity network. By fostering a collaborative environment between government, industry, and academia, the UK can unlock the full potential of AI while mitigating potential risks.