The United Kingdom faces growing unease that it is not moving quickly enough to address the risks posed by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, a development some have described as 'a critical moment'. Critics say attention to the issue appears to have waned as senior politicians concentrate on pressing domestic concerns.
Towards the end of Keir Starmer’s time in office, senior ministers alarmed by the latest AI developments began drawing up proposals for a dedicated AI safety law, according to people briefed on the plans. Those ministers commissioned a review of the existing legal framework to determine what statutory powers were already available to regulate AI and where new powers might be required.
Officials were also exploring stronger regulatory tools, including whether the government could require major technology companies to submit advanced AI products to safety testing before they are released. That approach would aim to create a pre-launch assessment regime for the world's most capable systems, the sources said.
The combination of a legislative review and consideration of pre-deployment testing reflects a period of policy activity that some observers fear has since lost momentum. With attention drawn to immediate domestic problems, there is concern among campaigners and officials that progress on AI safety may have slipped down the government’s list of priorities.
Those raising the alarm say the timing of any slowdown is significant because of the swift pace of AI development, but officials involved in the earlier work have not publicly set out next steps. The situation leaves questions about how and when the UK will translate initial planning into concrete regulatory measures to manage AI risks.