A cross-party group of 40 MPs has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham demanding rules to prohibit the development of superintelligent artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent it from killing all humans. The letter, led by Alex Sobel, Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, warns of a string of alarming AI incidents, including rogue AI systems taking unsanctioned action on the internet and hacking organisations.
Researcher's Warning
Mr Sobel said the threat was highlighted by the recent resignation of AI researcher Jacob Coxon, who warned that the technology could kill us all by the end of the decade. He drew a distinction between regular and superintelligent AI, which he said could be so autonomous and capable that it replaces and outcompetes humans across domains.
The bill, backed by Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green representatives, would see the UK impose a domestic ban on the advanced technology and pursue an international agreement to prevent the development of superintelligent AI worldwide.
Researcher's Departure
Mr Coxon warned this week that a race between companies towards self-improving superintelligence was gambling with our lives as he resigned from major US company Anthropic. Announcing his departure, he said that Anthropic and OpenAI, its main competitor, were not acting responsibly and that people outside of AI labs were underestimating the power of the technology.
"The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade," he added. "This is not a marketing stunt. No other human activity poses this level of danger."
Prime Minister's Response
Mr Burnham recognised risks to national security posed by AI after Mr Coxon's resignation, but added that it could also be the source of solutions to keeping us safer. "The offer is open to colleagues on all sides of the House to be part of that crucial discussion," he told the Commons on Wednesday.
The full list of MPs supporting the bill includes Alex Sobel, Jess Asato, Luke Myer, Tom Collins, John McDonnell, Patrick Hurley, Cat Eccles, Afzal Khan, Dawn Butler, Jeff Smith, Lee Barron, Paula Barker, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Euan Stainbank, Chris Hinchcliff, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Yasmin Qureshi, Tristan Osborne, Samantha Niblett, Kim Johnson, Richard Burgon, Bambos Charalambous, Sir Desmond Swayne, Manuela Perteghella, Wera Hobhouse, Charlie Maynard, Gideon Amos, Charlotte Cane, Ian Roome, Vikki Slade, Richard Foord, Iqbal Mohamed, Lara Bird, Brendan O'Hara, Pete Wishart, Graham Leadbitter, Chris Law, Carla Denyer, Hannah Spencer and Ben Lake.
