AI: Human Extinction

Debate between Baroness Teather and Baroness Twycross

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Teather]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of AI causing human extinction within the next decade.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)]

My Lords, AI is advancing at an extraordinary pace, creating opportunities and risks that do not stop at national borders. All new emerging technologies have had an impact on society, and it is government’s role to help mitigate potential risks. The UK is leading global efforts to test and understand AI, with one of the best-resourced AI security institutes in the world, which will help us develop the standards and safeguards necessary to keep people safe.

[Baroness Teather (LD)]

In recent days, we have heard urgent warnings from industry leaders, and even a Nobel Prize winner, about the arms race to superintelligence and the potential for grave harm to humanity. Whether you focus on apocalyptic risks or human rights abuses from AI happening now, experts are crying out for international collaboration, transparency and regulation to ensure that AI is used for human flourishing, not harm. Will the Government use all their influence, including as host of the G20 next year, to work for international agreement to mitigate risks, and lead the way here by bringing forward an AI Bill to give statutory teeth to the AI Security Institute, which my noble friend Lord Clement-Jones has long argued for?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The noble Baroness makes a range of important points. I want to reassure your Lordships’ House that the Government treat AI risks with extreme seriousness. Like others, we are pleased that some of the sector is talking about the risks, because only by talking about them are we able to work through solutions. As a responsible leader in AI security, we monitor a full range of risks that could be posed by frontier AI. I note that the noble Baroness made a number of different points and questions. I am very happy to meet her to talk through where we think we might go with this policy area.