From Compliance to Control: Mastering AI and Data Sovereignty
The global economy is entering an unprecedented phase of transformation, driven by the rapid rise of data and artificial intelligence. According to a report by Forrester, by 2028, the global digital economy will reach a staggering $16.5 trillion (£12.2 trillion), making it the third-largest economy on the planet, behind only the US and China.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that AI alone will drive 7% of global GDP growth over the next five years, more than double the expected growth rate of 3.4% for the broader economy. This shift represents a fundamental reordering of economic priorities and competitive advantage.
The critical question for every organization is clear: where will your growth come from in this new data-driven world?
The Role of Data and AI in Economic Growth
“Data and AI are no longer optional tools or experimental technology; they have become the cornerstone of economic growth and the decisive edge in global competition,” states a leading enterprise data and AI platform provider.
Despite this urgency, global research reveals that only 23% of enterprises are actively building their own sovereign AI and data platforms. These pioneers are pulling ahead — investing in sovereignty, observability, and AI readiness to build platforms for autonomous, real-time decision-making.
Understanding Sovereignty in AI and Data
At the heart of this movement is sovereignty: the ability to exercise full control over AI and data assets without sacrificing agility or compliance. It covers access, visibility, and the ability to use AI and data when needed most.
“Data and AI sovereignty isn’t about hiding behind a firewall or retreating from global collaboration,” it is explained. “It’s about freedom — the freedom to choose your AI models, to keep data compliant with evolving regulations, and to deploy capabilities across clouds, borders, and teams without compromise.”
According to the research, 97% of enterprise leaders see becoming their own AI and data platform as mission-critical, yet only 63% understand that sovereignty is essential to achieve it. Without it, organizations risk agility without control, leading to fragmentation and lost opportunities.
Building Effective AI and Data Platforms
“Building an AI and data platform isn’t simply about technology procurement; it means bringing every tool, model, and dataset into one secure, extensible environment where they can operate seamlessly together,” emphasizes industry experts.
The foundational technology enabling this is evolving. Solutions like Postgres offer a single architecture capable of handling both structured and unstructured data, supporting transactional, analytical, and AI workloads alike. This versatility is essential as enterprises move from experimentation to scaling production AI.
Those already leading the way have begun building what is termed “agentic AI factories.” These are internal AI ecosystems designed to deliver hyper-personalized services and autonomous outcomes across multiple business domains. Organizations investing heavily in such systems report nearly three times the expected ROI compared to peers.
The Pressure on Regulated Industries
In highly regulated industries — such as financial services, healthcare, defense, and the public sector — the pressure to scale agentic AI securely is intense. A sovereign platform that is hybrid by design makes this possible, allowing organizations to run AI where their data resides while maintaining full observability and control over the entire data estate.
This approach safeguards sensitive information and ensures regulatory compliance without stifling innovation.
The Urgency for Action
Currently, just under one in four enterprises globally understand this urgency. However, projections indicate that, within three years, half of all organizations will recognize sovereignty and AI readiness as mission-critical. This presents a short window that demands swift strategic action.
Success will require hybrid deployments that tightly couple data and AI, ensuring both are secure in motion and at rest. AI systems must be flexible, safe, and production-ready. Importantly, the underlying platforms must be open and extensible — not confined by proprietary technologies or legacy constraints.
“This is about more than competitive advantage; it’s about national and economic resilience. The UK has the talent, infrastructure, and policy momentum. What it needs now is the commercial will to turn that potential into real platforms and capabilities,” asserts industry leaders.
The Risks of Delay
For businesses, the risks of delay are evident. Falling behind in sovereignty and AI readiness threatens exclusion from emerging value chains, regulatory fines, and a loss of customer trust. As sovereignty becomes a key differentiator, companies relying heavily on third-party platforms face reputational damage and diminished investor confidence.
The UK’s National AI Strategy has laid important groundwork — committing to secure, explainable, and trustworthy AI ecosystems. However, government efforts can only pave the way; enterprises must take the wheel.
“Government can build the roads, but businesses have to drive the cars,” it is reminded. This means embedding sovereign AI and data governance into core digital strategies, investing in talent, and committing to platform ownership from day one.
Conclusion
Deploying AI responsibly is not simply about capability but accountability. Sovereign AI ensures compliance, aligns with business goals, and allows organizations to innovate with confidence and transparency.
Ultimately, sovereignty is not about isolation; it enables global interoperability, adaptability, and resilience, equipping organizations to compete confidently in a complex, evolving regulatory landscape. From GDPR in Europe to data localization in Asia and cloud compliance in the US, the ability to adjust systems dynamically is critical.
“Flexibility built on control is the new foundation,” concludes experts. With the right platform architecture, organizations don’t have to choose between openness and control — they can have both.
The competition for influence in the global AI economy is intensifying. Sovereign readiness will determine who captures the most value as digital transformation accelerates.
“There is a narrow window for the UK to assert itself. Every day counts. Those who transform intent into execution today will lead the next thirty years of growth.” The question now is whether enterprises are ready to make data and AI sovereignty their strategy before the window closes.
