Annecy AI Protests Amid UK AI Strategy Push

At the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, international animation unions staged protests highlighting deep concerns about the impact of generative AI on creative jobs, industry standards, and cultural values. Protestors argue that unchecked AI adoption threatens employment, artistic integrity, and copyright, raising demands for consent and compensation regarding the use of creative works to train AI systems. Meanwhile, the UK government is advancing its AI-driven industrial and public sector strategies, emphasizing economic renewal, job growth, and digital sovereignty with initiatives like Invest 2035 and the AI Opportunities Action Plan. These UK strategies aim to embed AI across key sectors while addressing risks associated with workforce adaptation and dependence on foreign technology platforms. The dual developments underscore a global tension between the promise of technological innovation and the need to safeguard creative professions and national interests. Both events reflect ongoing debates about balancing AI-driven progress with the protection of jobs and cultural values.