UK government to heed AI experts’ warnings
The UK Government will “heed the warnings” of artificial intelligence (AI) experts who have highlighted the risks the technology could pose, First Secretary Louise Haigh will say on Tuesday, reports BritPanorama.
This position contrasts sharply with that of US President Donald Trump, who has dismissed alarms about AI’s potential threats to humanity, even when voiced by industry insiders.
Ms Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, will acknowledge the transformative potential of AI for public services, business growth, and scientific advancement.
At the TUC annual congress in Brighton, she will assert the Government’s readiness to cooperate internationally to mitigate the risks associated with this evolving technology.
She will state: “AI has enormous potential to transform our public services, make our businesses stronger and deliver new scientific breakthroughs.” However, she will emphasize that ministers must “heed the warnings of those who are at the forefront of developing this technology” and be prepared to collaborate with international partners to ensure public safety and national security.
Ms Haigh’s remarks come after Prime Minister Andy Burnham withdrew from the event following the death of his father.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has addressed public concerns regarding AI, insisting that people can have confidence in the UK’s safeguards. “We should neither be complacent nor should we be hyperbolic about this,” he told BBC Breakfast.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by leading AI technology, primarily emerging from the US and China, while arguing that the UK remains a world leader in AI safety.
In contrast, President Trump has labelled concerns about AI as a “hoax,” despite warnings from key figures in the industry regarding the rapid advancements in the technology.
He has expressed worries that any slowdown in US development could benefit Chinese firms, resisting calls from tech leaders like Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and SpaceXAI’s Elon Musk for increased government regulation of AI.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump remarked: “The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
The dialogue surrounding AI continues to develop, as governments and industry leaders navigate the balance between innovation and accountability.
