Key facts
- Labour's first secretary, Louise Haigh, will urge ministers to heed warnings from AI experts.
- Anthropic researchers warned AI could pose an existential threat to humanity within a decade.
- OpenAI supports stronger UK rules for the most powerful AI systems.
- MPs and peers called for a new UK regulatory framework for AI, including an independent oversight body.
- A government spokesperson stated the UK takes advanced AI risks seriously and collaborates internationally.
- Experts estimate a 10% chance ASI could wipe out humans.
Ministers must "heed the warnings" from industry leaders about the threat posed by artificial intelligence as the UK looks to capitalize on the technology, Labour's first secretary, Louise Haigh, is set to say on Tuesday. Labour MPs and peers have called for increased government cooperation with international partners to build regulation for AI, following warnings from three Anthropic researchers that artificial intelligence could kill off humanity within the decade.
Over the weekend, Anthropic urged its competitors and governments to coordinate a global slowdown in AI development, a call backed by rivals including OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Elon Musk's X. Haigh will state in a speech at TUC Congress that while AI offers significant potential benefits for health and public services, the government must seriously consider the public safety and national security threats in collaboration with international partners.
On Monday night, Jack Clark, a co-founder of Anthropic, suggested that a third-party-held AI "kill switch" might need to be mandatory for companies, indicating it is something society "might want to eventually pass rules around." OpenAI, a major rival and operator of ChatGPT, also urged the government to leverage renewed fears over AI safety to impose legislation. Tom Duff Gordon, OpenAI's head of policy in Europe, stated the company supports stronger UK rules for the most powerful AI systems but believes legislation should focus on advanced AI labs rather than startups.
Haigh's speech will also outline priorities for public control of transport, water, and energy. MPs and peers on the parliamentary committee for human rights on Monday called for a new regulatory framework for AI in the UK, including an independent oversight body and legislation to protect the public. The committee noted AI poses threats ranging from public face-scanning and explicit deepfakes to disciplinary actions against workers without reasonable cause. Alex Sobel, the Labour chair of the human rights committee, commented that the world is unprepared for the "potentially dire" consequences of rapidly developing AI, stating that no country, including the UK, has a fit-for-purpose legislative and regulatory approach.
A government spokesperson affirmed that the UK takes the risks from advanced AI "extremely seriously" and recognizes the need to keep pace with technological evolution, including working closely with AI companies and other nations. The spokesperson added that any future measures would be evidence-based and risk-focused.
Last Friday, over 70 MPs and peers urged Andy Burnham to support a ban on the creation of artificial superintelligence (ASI) and lead an international movement to halt its development. This appeal followed a week of warnings from experts who estimated a 10% chance ASI could eliminate humans. Signatories included former government ministers, the former head of the civil service Robin Butler, and senior MPs from various parties. They urged the prime minister to support a bill in the Commons that would prohibit ASI.