Delivery robots hit UK Parliament as Starship Technologies urges regulatory innovation

An autonomous delivery robot appeared in the UK Parliament yesterday morning, in front of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) Select Committee.

Starship Technologies was invited to give a presentation to the committee against the backdrop of the government’s AI action plan, announced this week. The company’s VP of Communications Lisa Johnson set out the firm's “success story” alongside a Starship robot, which sat on the Committee table and had its own name tag.

Johnson said that Starship wants to invest more in the UK, but that other countries have moved far more quickly to regulate the space and support innovation. In the wake of the Clifford report, she stated that AI and robotics need the right regulatory framework and a cross-government approach.

One of the company’s key asks is for an urgent update to current highways legislation which dates back to 1835 - the same century that the Palace of Westminster was built, and roads were filled with horses and carriages.

Johnson comments: “The UK has fallen behind in this part of regulation. While the Automated Vehicles Act was very progressive, it didn't include our little robots… with all the will in the world, I don't think the good folk who were drafting the 1835 Highways Act necessarily had in mind a little robot that's going to deliver people’s shopping autonomously in 2025."

“The AI Opportunities Action Plan was published this week, which we really welcome. As much focus as there is on generative AI, we would ask government not to forget embodied AI. We're taking AI and we're putting it into hardware which goes out into the world. And in some ways that's much more difficult than something that exists online."

“Cross-departmental action is needed, which could be in the form of a national framework or devolved powers. We firmly believe local authorities are well placed to understand what works in their communities, and to enable that - much as Milton Keynes and other local authorities have done.”

Starship CEO Ahti Heinla, who also founded Skype, says: “The UK is being left behind by lack of action in our sector so the government needs to follow through on its promise of regulatory innovation."

"We’ve been using AI to drive autonomous grocery deliveries for a decade and now we have thousands of robots delivering to neighbourhoods in multiple countries. We’re using AI to solve the last-mile problem which is carbon-intensive and it’s expensive.”

“Over seven million deliveries in, we know it works, we know it’s a commercially viable, scalable solution. We can invest more in the UK, but it needs the right regulatory approach and a cross-government approach with all relevant departments working together. Other countries have moved far more quickly on this so far and the UK needs to catch up.”

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July. This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

Please email our Editor, Scott Thompson, if you have any questions or need further information: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com

FAQs

Is there a fee to enter the awards?: No, it is free of charge.

Can I enter across multiple categories: Yes.

Do I need to complete all the sections in the entry form? No, but the more information you provide, the better chance you have of producing a successful submission.

Is there a certain timeframe for nominated projects, initiatives etc? Yes, nominated projects, initiatives etc should have been completed (or substantially completed) during the last 12 months.

Who has visibility of our completed entry form and what information will be public should we win or be shortlisted? Only our Editor, Scott Thompson, and judging panel will view submissions. The information provided in the summary section of the entry form will be made public.

Do you only accept entries from UK-based companies? No, we accept entries from all parts of the world.

What is the shortlists process? Shortlists will be announced in April 2025, then shortlisted entries will be sent to our independent judging panel who will decide upon the winners and highly commended submissions. Shortlisted companies will be invited to attend an awards ceremony at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July 2o25.

Do winners and highly commended companies receive post-event coverage? Yes, post-event coverage includes articles on our website and also an in-depth awards review in our printed magazine. There is also the opportunity for a company profile type piece to be published on our site and within our magazine.

When is the deadline for 2025 submissions? Friday, 23rd May 2025.

When will the 2025 winners be revealed? Winners will be announced at an event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July. This will kick off with a drinks reception, followed by a three course meal, awards ceremony, and after party featuring DJ until midnight.

Who will be judging submissions? Details of our 2025 judging panel will be announced in the near future.