Oral Answers to Questions

Tony Vaughan Excerpts

Wednesday 20th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Feryal Clark]

As I have said, increasing productivity right across the UK is fundamental to our mission to kick-start economic growth. Through our industrial strategy and the development of local growth plans, we will build on local strengths to ensure that public and private research and development businesses right across the UK help local places to reach their potential. We are strengthening the relationships with businesses to deliver for British people.

[Tony Vaughan (Folkestone and Hythe) (Lab)]

6. If he will take steps to support the creation of a global network of scientific research on frontier artificial intelligence safety.

[The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Peter Kyle)]

The UK is a founding member of the AI Safety Institute international network. The network convenes for the first time today in San Francisco.

[Tony Vaughan]

The UK is a global leader in AI development, which brings many opportunities, but we know that the risks associated with AI can be managed only by global co-operation. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that the UK works with other main leaders in AI development, including the US and China, to ensure that the most advanced frontier AI models are safe for global consumers?

[Peter Kyle]

My hon. Friend is completely right to say that safety has to be there from the outset. We want our country to safely explore all the opportunities that AI offers, but it can do so only if people are reassured that safety is there from the outset. The UK safety institute is at the forefront of this. It is the first safety institute, and we are at the forefront of delivering international as well as domestic safety. We are currently working on an international review of the science of AI safety, which draws on the expertise of 30 countries.