Manchester ranks most AI-ready city outside London in the UK

SAS AI Cities Index is based on seven criteria, including AI-related jobs, number of AI companies, search demand for generative AI and education opportunities.

Manchester has been ranked the most artificial intelligence-ready city in the UK outside of London, according to research.

The city topped the SAS AI Cities Index 2024, compiled by AI and analytics specialist SAS, which annually reveals the cities outside the UK capital that are most likely to benefit from the growing appetite for artificial intelligence intelligence (AI).

AI research criteria

The research is compiled from seven criteria, including AI-related jobs being advertised, the number of AI companies in the city, search demand for generative AI, education opportunities and the value of Innovate UK funding granted in each area.

Manchester, which is also the birthplace of the industrial revolution, came first due to having the highest amount of AI-related companies in the city, along with the most hackathons, and a large volume of AI-related jobs within a five-mile radius.

“AI-ready cities will lead the way in being more resilient, while also meeting new urban living standards, such as meeting sustainability targets, and even making services more accessible to people living with disabilities”

Manchester has had a number of AI innovations and initiatives in the last year, including Manchester United turning to artificial intelligence in April 2024. The football club is working in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, to help improve the performance of their men’s, women’s and academy teams, to analyse where improvements can be made to help the team’s coaches.

Cambridge and Oxford, often known as part of the golden triangle due to being home to world-leading life science clusters, fell to positions nine and 16 respectively

For the first time, the study also took into account the rising demand for tools like ChatGPT, using insights to reveal the cities which have had the biggest growth in searches for generative AI.

The analysis also revealed which parts of the UK have seen the biggest growth in AI-readiness since last year. Salford, in Greater Manchester, continued the northern dominance of the table, leaping a huge 68 places to take third spot. In total, over £100m has been awarded to businesses in Salford from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.

SAS revealed which parts of the UK seem least prepared to utilise AI to its full potential, and bottom of the list was Truro, followed by Newry and Peterborough, despite its proximity to Cambridge.

SAS also compared the AI-readiness of all London boroughs, revealing that Camden, home to University College London (UCL) and University of London, topped the list beating the likes of Westminster, Southwark and Hackney. Kensington and Chelsea, which came last in 2023, rose to position 18, while Bexley came last.

“AI-ready cities will lead the way in…