Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of the potential risks posed by the deployment of autonomous or agentic artificial intelligence systems in critical national infrastructure, including (a) the ability of such systems to take actions without direct human approval, (b) the potential for unintended or unauthorised actions to disrupt essential services, and (c) the adequacy of existing safeguards, monitoring and human oversight arrangements.

Recent incidents of AI models carrying out unsanctioned actions are a serious reminder of the risks AI capabilities pose. The Government recognises the scale and severity of AI risks to critical national infrastructure (CNI); our response incorporates cross-Government AI risk management, world-leading research, and over £100 million of investment in new monitoring and response bodies. The 2026 Budget committed £40 million to a National Agentic Security Unit to detect and respond to misaligned agentic activity with monitoring mechanisms.

We regularly assess the risks, including through the cross-Government AI Risk Register, which assesses the full spectrum of AI risks that could impact the UK, including within CNI sectors. The AI Security Institute (AISI) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) regularly share relevant research and guidance online, as well as with relevant stakeholders within Government. Due to national security concerns, I cannot provide more detailed information.