Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is set to warn the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that artificial intelligence is developing too quickly for regulators to keep pace, as the UK prepares to host a global AI safety summit in November.
In a speech in New York, Dowden will call for an international regulatory system to be created, arguing that current governance is falling behind rapid technological advances. He will stress that companies cannot be left to self-regulate, stating: 'Tech companies must not mark their own homework.'
The warning comes amid growing concerns within the UK government about the potential misuse of AI, including disinformation through realistic fake images and videos, and discriminatory outcomes from biased algorithms. Dowden will highlight national security risks, urging nation states to ensure public faith in the technology.
The UK is positioning itself as a leader in AI regulation, with several world leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Justin Trudeau, expected to attend the Bletchley Park summit. However, the US will be represented by Vice-President Kamala Harris, while the extent of China's involvement remains under debate following a recent spying arrest.
