Healey says AI will not go unchecked in the UK

Chancellor John Healey has said the government will not allow artificial intelligence to develop without oversight in the UK, while pledging not to let the technology’s economic opportunity pass Britain by.

Healey made the remarks in his Growth Speech on Monday (7 September), with the transcript published by HM Treasury.

“As Chancellor, I will not let this opportunity of AI pass Britain by, but nor will I allow this technology to proceed with no oversight,” said John Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Healey described AI as a general-purpose technology that will transform every firm, community, hospital and school in the economy.

He said AI differs from previous world-changing technologies such as the steam engine, electricity and the world wide web because it self-improves, with the capability of frontier models doubling every four months on some measures.

The Chancellor said he shares public concerns that AI takes up space and resources and will change the labour market in ways nobody fully understands, replacing some jobs while creating others.

He said the government needs to face up to the risks AI poses to national security and business security.

Healey pointed to the AI Security Institute, the AI Economics Institute and a Cabinet-level AI Minister as the mechanisms the government is using to guard against those risks while grasping the opportunity.

He said the government announced a Sovereign AI programme last week, with the state acting as an early customer to help the companies involved scale.

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