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Critique of government’s approach to AI management and calls for a shift in focus.
Labor tech ministers have expressed their concerns about the UK government’s approach to regulating artificial intelligence (AI), asserting that slow progress and mismanagement of priorities are undermining the tech sector. These criticisms came to the forefront during tech-focused discussions at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool as the opposition prepares for the upcoming general election.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously outlined the government’s commitment to securing the UK’s position as a global leader in AI technology. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has emphasized November’s AI safety summit and the government’s Frontier AI Taskforce as essential elements of the AI regulation strategy.
However, Labour’s tech team contends that the Conservative Party’s efforts are falling short when it comes to managing AI-related risks and maximizing its potential for the country.
Speaking at an event organized by the Startup Coalition, Matt Rodda, the Shadow Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, highlighted the critical role that AI can play in achieving sustained economic growth.
At Labour Party conference @ACCA_UK hosting on the UK providing global leadership on AI regulation and governance: thanks to @MattRodda MP, shadow minister for AI & IP, @SeemaMalhotra1 MP, shadow skills minister and @DarrenpJones MP, shadow chief secretary with @SovereignPA pic.twitter.com/vjEgu3zVdO
— ACCA UK (@ACCA_UK) October 10, 2023
He criticized the government’s lengthy process in developing the AI regulatory white paper, suggesting it reflects their inability to manage AI-related matters effectively. He emphasized that the slow pace of the white paper’s release and the issues encountered during government AI consultations are negatively impacting the AI industry and the UK’s economy.
Furthermore, Rodda expressed concerns about the focus of the upcoming AI Safety Summit on existential threats related to frontier AI, stating that it may not be addressing the full spectrum of AI’s economic potential. This sentiment was echoed by Alex Davies-Jones, the Shadow Minister for Tech and Digital Economy, who believes the summit has lost sight of addressing immediate threats to jobs, data privacy, disinformation, and bias.
Davies-Jones called for an internationally collaborative approach to tackle the pressing AI challenges that affect the world today, emphasizing the need to focus on tangible risks rather than hypothetical doomsday scenarios.
The government has outlined objectives for the AI Safety Summit, including aligning international stakeholders’ understanding of AI-related risks and establishing a forward process for international cooperation.
