AI Growth Lab

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

There will indeed be safeguards built into the AI growth lab. Modification powers would operate with robust safeguards to protect fundamental rights and safety. The lab’s design must balance the need for rapid reform and, as both noble Lords have mentioned, the importance of retaining public trust and confidence in the UK’s high regulatory standards.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, I understand the need for proportionate regulation in this area, particularly because the UK already has considerable investment and wishes to see more investment in the future. But there is one area, superintelligent AI, where there is the potential for loss of control, particularly over defence and security systems, and where some legislation is required to prevent some of these developments. In taking this forward, will the Government consider this?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

The specific proposals around the AI growth lab are separate from considerations on the development of superintelligent AI and the risks that poses. We are extremely fortunate in the UK to benefit from the AI Security Institute, which is testing those models and is also able to advise the Government, and indeed the wider economy and all market participants, on the risks that superintelligent AI may pose. As we speak today, it is uncertain exactly what some of those risks are.