Halt super-intelligent AI with non-proliferation treaty, Ed Davey to say

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, will propose a global non-proliferation treaty for super-intelligent AI during his keynote speech at the party's conference in Brighton. Accusing Labour leader Andy Burnham of relying on Donald Trump and "tech bros" to solve the problem, Davey will call for a global pause on AI development, comparing it to a nuclear arms race that could "destroy us all."

Davey plans to introduce an international AI safety agency modeled after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and based in the UK. He will criticize the current reliance on tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, stating that the future of AI is being decided by a small number of powerful individuals in California and Beijing. Davey emphasizes that liberals cannot allow such existential risks to be left in the hands of a select few, much like nuclear weapons or climate change.

The Prime Minister recently announced a new AI partnership with the United States, but Davey believes it falls short of addressing the scale of the threat and risks increasing dependence on a Trump administration influenced by the tech industry. Lib Dems' home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson previously proposed a big tech levy and a new online crime agency to combat various digital crimes, including those involving deepfake AI-generated content.

Davey defends his party's policies during a series of interviews on Monday, emphasizing that they offer well-thought-out solutions to reduce taxes, job creation, and improved social care. While praising Burnham for his desire to reform adult social care, Davey remains skeptical about Burnham's ability to deliver as Prime Minister.