Measuring Artificial Intelligence in the UK Economy
How can AI activity be identified, classified, and disaggregated from non-AI activity so that production, investment, trade, and use can be measured transparently within a UK National Accounts framework?
Important Statistical Guardrail: Broad Product Totals are NOT AI Output
Published Official Statistics & Research Benchmarks
Source: ONS S1, S2, S5 & DSIT S8Identified in ONS Table 1 across manufacturing, tech, R&D, and services
Published broad denominator total containing both AI and non-AI production
June 2026 ONS survey (up from 12.1% in late 2023). Adoption ≠ GVA
3,170 dedicated AI firms + 2,690 diversified AI providers benchmark
Interactive Research Modules & Workflows
1. AI Production Stack Explorer
Interactive 8-layer map from data centres, silicon, and cloud compute up to frontier models and enterprise applications. Examines UK residency, trade flows, and production boundaries at each tier.
2. Supply & Use Explorer
Inspect published Supply & Use data across all 23 AI-relevant CPA product groups (2020–2023). Decompose domestic output, imports, intermediate consumption, GFCF, and exports with accessible data tables.
3. AI/Non-AI Disaggregation Lab
Experiment with Direct, Proportional, Modelled, and Hybrid disaggregation methods. Adjust assumption sliders, inspect sensitivity tornado charts, and download reproducible scenario packages.
4. AI Business Classification Lab
Multi-label classification of UK business descriptions into 13 ONS Table 3 categories. Features dual rule-based + TF-IDF logistic baselines, feature explainability, and interactive human review.
5. SNA Decision Engine
Step-by-step decision support on System of National Accounts treatment. Evaluates economic ownership, own-account software assets, GFCF, cloud API intermediate consumption, and residency.
6. Measurement Gaps & Agenda
Structured register of the 6 core ONS measurement challenges: product disaggregation, embedded AI, business populations, diversified firm revenues, alternative data sources, and quarterly timeliness.
ONS AI Thematic Account Roadmap & Research Alignment
Tracking the official ONS thematic account delivery schedule published in September 2026 (S1)
Define the AI conceptual stack, identify 23 broad CPA product groups, and map initial business populations with DSIT.
Evaluate Direct, Proportional, Modelled, and Hybrid disaggregation options. Explore alternative administrative data.
Compile test Supply & Use tables, run user consultation, and refine disaggregation shares across industry sectors.
Target readiness to productionise official experimental AI thematic satellite account within UK National Accounts.