Forget AI, Britain needs to remember what we’re really world leaders in

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I’ve been listening to politicians from all parties lately, and they’re constantly going on about how artificial intelligence is going to revolutionize Britain and make us a global force. They want us to pour money into it, which sounds great in theory. But honestly? It feels like they’re overlooking something we already excel at. We’re world-renowned for our creative arts scene! Yet these incredibly valuable skills are consistently dismissed as just being ‘soft’ – nobody ever seems to champion them the way they do with AI. It’s a strange oversight, and frankly, a little frustrating.

I don’t understand that claim. The creative sector is a major economic driver, contributing roughly £124 billion annually and providing around 2.4 million jobs throughout the UK. Plus, it significantly boosts our hospitality and tourism industries through events like museum visits, concerts, and theatre performances – everything from Shakespearean plays to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Even a simple idea can have a big impact – my ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ books are a good example. The first live-action adaptation, which came out last year, was filmed in Northern Ireland at the Titanic Studios. I’ve just finished visiting the set of the sequel, which is currently being filmed in Elstree.

Mason Thames voices Hiccup, and Cate Blanchett plays his mother, Valka. However, most of the cast and the composer, John Powell, are British. The computer-generated dragons are being made here, and the movie will also be finished with editing and sound effects here. The music for the film is being recorded at AIR Studios, which was founded by the legendary George Martin.

The How to Train Your Dragon movies started with my first book, published in 2003. Now, I’ve written a new book called Fight of the Flamestrike, which continues the adventures of Hiccup, Toothless, and Windwalker—it’s aimed at young readers. Interestingly, the UK actually exports more physical books than any other country, including the United States.

Britain consistently achieves remarkable success in the arts, including music, theatre, and visual arts, despite its relatively small size. Our television formats, like “The Piano” and “Taskmaster”, are also incredibly popular internationally, and the scale of our global impact is truly impressive.

Why are we focusing so much on the potential dangers and unknowns of AI, instead of celebrating the strengths of our creative fields?

It’s disappointing how little importance we place on the arts, especially in schools. Education should aim to develop the whole person, and the arts are a vital part of that. Unfortunately, it often feels like we’re just focused on test results and memorizing facts – a bit like the character in Dickens’s Hard Times. Art courses have seen a significant drop in student numbers – almost 50% since 2010. We need to recognize the value of art, music, and drama so our children can develop empathy and truly flourish.

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Creativity is vital, especially when it comes to how children learn about STEM fields like science, technology, engineering, and math. With the rise of AI, creative thinking will become even more crucial. AI can’t replicate human creativity, so we need doctors, scientists, and mathematicians who can think outside the box.

I’m concerned about AI because large tech companies are using people’s creative work – often years in the making – without asking permission. This hurts the creative industries and raises serious questions: how can they do this legally? What motivation will future artists and writers have if their work isn’t protected by copyright?

As someone who believes in British talent, I really feel the government needs to champion our creative industries. It’s not enough to just protect them, though – we need to actively promote everything we excel at and really celebrate our strengths as a nation. Let’s make sure the world knows what we’re good at!

Authors

Cressida Cowell

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2026-06-15 12:05