‘A critical moment’: concern UK is not up to speed in acting on AI risks

Andy Burnham's focus on immediate domestic problems leads some to fear issue has dropped off government's radar

Towards the end of Keir Starmer's time in office, his senior ministers, alarmed by the latest developments in artificial intelligence, began drawing up plans for a new AI safety law.

They ordered a review of existing legislation to see what powers they already had, according to those briefed on the plans, and were exploring whether they could force the world's most advanced technology companies to submit their products for safety testing before launching them.