AI: Human Extinction

Lord Clement-Jones Excerpts

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend raises a number of interesting points. It is true that we need to address this internationally. AI clearly crosses national borders. It is not like previous forms of new technology. We need to find the way forward in getting the balance right. We have been using our opportunity to lead internationally in having those conversations across borders as one of the leaders in AI safety.

[Lord Clement-Jones (LD)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a consultant to DLA Piper on AI regulation and policy. Just two weeks ago, the Government resisted a proposal from Members right across this House to introduce an AI kill switch into cyber legislation on the grounds that the Government were “technology agnostic”. How agnostic does the Minister feel today?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I presume that the noble Lord is referring to the amendment tabled to the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and information Systems) Bill. One of the things that we have done is introduce the Bill and the guidance to work through that. I know that my noble friend Lady Lloyd will be happy to talk further with the noble Lord about this. One of the issues with a kill switch is that it would be impossible for Britain simply to turn AI off. Another issue is the extent of people’s concerns about whether a kill switch could or would work, but I know my noble friend Lady Lloyd would be delighted to speak further to the noble Lord.