Sunak: safe AI can help deliver better public services
Prime Minister predicts huge benefits for society as long as new technology has adequate ‘guardrails’
ARTIFICIAL intelligence could be used to improve public services, the Prime Minister has said.
Rishi Sunak said yesterday that he had discussed AI with other leaders in the Council of Europe this week and expected the subject to come up at the G7 in Japan this weekend.
He said that Britain could be a leader in AI technology but regulations must be in place to make sure it was safe.
Mr Sunak said Britain would seek to increase its regulation of new technologies as their capabilities increased, with “guardrails” imposed to protect children.
Some experts have warned that the rise of AI could have catastrophic consequences for the human race. However, others believe it could lead to huge benefits, if properly regulated.
Mr Sunak suggested his talks with world leaders could encompass ways to co-ordinate regulation.
He said: “I think if it’s used safely, if it’s used securely, obviously there are benefits from artificial intelligence for growing our economy, for transforming our society, improving public services.
“But as I say that has to be done safely and securely and with guardrails in place, and that has been our regulatory approach… so that we can exploit AI for its benefits.
“We have taken a deliberately iterative approach because the technology is evolving quickly and we want to make sure that our regulation can evolve as it does as well.”
He added: “That is going to involve co-ordination with our allies. Actually we were discussing this yesterday in my session of the Council of Europe; we were discussing AI in particular.
“And you would expect it to form some of the conversations as well at the G7. I think that the UK has a track record of being in a leadership position and bringing people together, particularly in regard to technological regulation.”
He cited the Online Safety Bill as “another area of new regulation that we have put into place in response to new technology and how it is impacting our lives. The world has looked to us and that Bill as a kind of leading example of how to do it.”
Last month, Mr Sunak announced £100million in start-up funding for a taskforce responsible for accelerating the UK’S capability in AI development.
Yesterday, it was announced that BT is to cut 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade, including replacing around 10,000 workers with AI.
The telecoms giant will reduce the size of its workforce by 40 per cent by the end of the 2030 financial year, as it battles to steady the ship amid surging inflation and energy costs.
Philip Jansen, the chief executive, said the new BT would be a “leaner business with a brighter future”.
Around 25,000 jobs will be cut through a reduction in engineers as the company’s full-fibre rollout comes to an end and old copper networks are shut down. Roughly 10,000 roles will be replaced by automation as the company embraces artificial intelligence, largely in its customer service division.
Rishi Sunak’s signing of the Hiroshima Accord between Britain and Japan yesterday marked a significant commitment from the UK to its allies in the Indo-pacific, combining a defence agreement with steps on trade and semiconductors.
From the Aukus treaty to negotiating accession to the CPTPP, Britain has proved nimble in its diplomatic pivot from Europe to this critical theatre. The clear intent behind these partnerships is containing an increasingly assertive China, which seeks to disrupt the international order to its own advantage. Hence the emphasis on security and supply chain resilience, as Beijing’s threats towards Taiwan (home of semiconductor manufacturer TSMC) grow more overt and the “friendshoring” of critical sectors gathers pace.
While the anticipated accession of Japan to Aukus has not occurred, there is no doubt that Tokyo is also committed to doing its part, with defence budgets set to rise significantly. Events in Russia have shown the folly of relying on despotic regimes, and it is good that plans for a potential decoupling with Beijing are taking shape.
But there is also in this Accord a return to a natural and welcome role for Britain. We are a maritime country with a proud naval tradition; Nelson, Trafalgar and the Nile echo through the pages of our history. While the war in Europe captures attention, our prosperity has relied for generations upon the free navigation of the seas.
The commitment to the future deployment of the UK’S Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-pacific is a reminder of this truth. There is great value in our maritime heritage and capabilities, in particular our aircraft carriers, and it is surely right that we retain a strong focus on the role of the Navy.