Don't leave AI to tech bros and oligarchs, UK's AI minister says

The UK's AI minister, Kanishka Narayan, has warned against allowing artificial intelligence to be controlled by tech bros and oligarchs. Speaking to the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, he emphasized that addressing AI requires not only regulation but also building state capability and capacity. Narayan compared the current AI revolution to the Victorian-era Industrial Revolution, but stressed that the UK must navigate the transition better.

His comments came the day before Barclays announced plans to cut 5,000 jobs through AI-driven efficiency measures. The same day, a significant cyber-security flaw impacting millions of websites was discovered, aided by AI. Narayan, the UK's first AI Cabinet minister, highlighted the unprecedented scale of technological change, likening it to the Industrial Revolution.

He cautioned that while the overall outcome has been beneficial for the country, the transition has been painful for many. Narayan stressed that British democracy must assert control over AI rather than letting it be dominated by tech elites. He urged the government to build AI capabilities within Britain to shape working conditions and prevent development abroad.

Narayan also noted that the government recently utilized frontier AI models to identify over 500 new vulnerabilities in public sector systems. He hinted at potential AI-related announcements in the upcoming Budget, without providing further details. Rejecting the idea that the US and China are the sole AI powers, Narayan pointed out that the UK's AI Security Institute has received requests from US labs to test models before deployment.

Earlier this month, he warned that a breach of the UK's cyber defences was likely, citing an incident where an OpenAI agent compromised an Australian government website in June.