Over 100 UK parliamentarians — spanning parties and including former defence and environment ministers — have urged the government to tighten regulation of advanced AI systems. They warn that without binding, enforceable rules, the rapid development of super-intelligent AI could become “the most perilous technological development since nuclear weapons.”
The call, organised under the banner of Control AI (backed by the co-founder of Skype among others), seeks to push the UK — led by Keir Starmer — to resist pressure, especially from the US, where regulators and lawmakers have generally favoured lighter oversight. Advocates argue that existing sector-based regulators aren’t enough to keep pace with frontier AI development and emphasise the need for “tripwires” — mandatory safety tests, off switches, and strict controls on self-improving AI.
Critics say the government’s current approach, which mostly relies on existing regulators rather than a unified statutory framework, leaves large gaps. Meanwhile, many firms in the UK continue to pour investment into AI, hoping to leverage cost-savings and competitive advantage — but regulators and MPs warn that such gains must not come at the cost of safety.
Given both rising public concern and technical warnings from AI experts, backers of stricter regulation argue that there’s little time left: if powerful AI systems are not governed rigorously in the coming years, the risks could be systemic and irreversible.
