The United Kingdom has expressed a desire to establish its own regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI), suggesting it may diverge from the strategies adopted by its Western counterparts.
Feryal Clark, the UK’s minister for AI and digital government, emphasized the importance of the UK crafting its unique regulatory path during a recent interview, noting the government’s strong collaborative ties with AI firms like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
Clark highlighted the necessity of incorporating safety measures early in AI model development and stated ongoing collaboration with the industry on future safety protocols.
The statements align with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s comments that the UK has the autonomy post-Brexit to devise regulations that best serve its interests. Starmer mentioned this in response to a reporter’s inquiry following his announcement of a comprehensive plan to position the UK as a leader in AI.
Currently, the UK has not enacted specific AI legislation, opting instead to allow existing regulatory bodies to oversee AI development and usage according to current rules.
This approach contrasts with the EU’s unified regulatory framework aimed at standardizing technology oversight across member states through a risk-based methodology.
On the other hand, the U.S. currently does not have federal regulations for AI and instead uses a varied set of regulatory frameworks implemented at state and local levels.
Chris Mooney, a partner at Marriott Harrison law firm, described the UK’s stance as a “wait and see” approach, while the EU moves forward with its AI legislation.
Sachin Dev Duggal, CEO of Builder.ai, a UK-based AI startup, cautioned that although the government’s AI plans demonstrate vision, the absence of clear guidelines might pose risks.
Duggal emphasized the strategic importance of the UK’s data, suggesting it should be used to foster domestic AI advancements rather than simply enhance foreign algorithms that are challenging to regulate.
