{
  "id": 9882354,
  "title": "Burnham says AI safety should be an issue for governments and not left to chance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/burnham-says-ai-safety-should-be-an-issue-for-governments-and-not",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-23T02:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://newarkadvertiser.co.uk/national/burnham-says-ai-safety-should-be-an-issue-for-governments-and-not-left-to-chance-172033"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Andy Burnham, the UK's Foreign Secretary, has called on governments to take a proactive role in establishing safety measures for artificial intelligence (AI) and not to leave it to chance. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Burnham stated that the UK aims to lead the world in developing a set of international rules for frontier AI, acting as an \"honest broker\" to create a single set of global principles and standards. The US and China are currently leading AI development, with Washington wary of any measures that could hinder American firms' competitiveness. Burnham emphasized that the UK, as America's closest ally and a member of various international organizations, is uniquely positioned to bring nations together and tackle this significant challenge and opportunity of the age. He reiterated that AI presents immense potential in healthcare, economic growth, education, and defence, but its potential to pose an existential risk to humanity must be acknowledged. Burnham stressed that decisions regarding AI development should be made by elected governments who serve the people. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband echoed Burnham's sentiments, stating that the creators of AI technology have warned of its potential for both good and harm. He emphasized that governments cannot outsource their primary responsibility to protect citizens to private companies. Despite criticism for not signing up to an international initiative led by Norway and Finland, Burnham affirmed that the UK's G20 plan will incorporate welcome initiatives from other countries.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}