British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK intends to take a leading role in international efforts to develop common standards for artificial intelligence, cautioning that rapid advances in the technology could outpace existing safeguards and heighten security concerns.
Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Burnham said governments needed to confront the risks associated with AI while ensuring societies were able to benefit from its opportunities.
“We’ve all heard the warnings – which we must heed,” he said. “I know how worried people are. So we have to rise to this moment.”
AI featured prominently in Burnham’s first major international engagement as prime minister, as he called for Britain to embrace the technology while strengthening protections against potential threats, including its exploitation by hostile actors.
Burnham said the UK was positioned to act as an “honest broker” in international discussions on AI, pointing to its longstanding partnership with the United States, closer engagement with the European Union and relationships with countries such as China and India.
He referred to the work of the UK’s AI Security Institute, which collaborates with US authorities and major AI developers on safety issues, but stressed that additional measures were required as the technology continues to evolve.
According to his office, British officials have informed AI companies that the government wants greater access to information about new frontier models to help improve national preparedness and resilience.
Burnham said governments elected by the public should retain responsibility for major decisions concerning AI rather than allowing technology companies to determine the direction of the technology alone.
He added that AI would feature prominently during Britain’s G20 presidency next year, when the government plans to pursue international agreement on shared principles and standards.
“We will work towards agreeing a single set of global principles and standards to ensure the transparency and access we need to increase our preparedness and to ensure that AI development is safe,” he said.
Burnham also unveiled plans to establish a National Centre for Information Defence, which will focus on detecting, tracing and disrupting hostile information operations by foreign states, including threats involving deepfakes.
“Today I am tasking our security chiefs to begin work on a new National Centre for Information Defence, to detect, attribute and disrupt these kinds of hostile state information attacks, to support and defend our democracy,” he said.
He also cited alleged Russian efforts to influence public debate in Britain through disinformation campaigns involving automated accounts, fabricated websites and falsified branding. Russia has denied the allegations.
The UK’s push for international AI standards comes as governments seek closer cooperation over the development and use of increasingly powerful AI systems, particularly around safety, security, transparency and potential misuse.
Ojo Triumph
Follow us on:
