UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that artificial intelligence could become the world's biggest security challenge over the next decade if governments fail to establish effective international safeguards. In a speech for Chatham House, she argued that AI's rapid development is outpacing global regulations and called for stronger international cooperation to prevent the technology from being exploited by malicious actors.
Cooper compared the current moment in AI development to the early days of nuclear technology, saying the world cannot afford to wait for an "AI equivalent of Hiroshima" before taking action. She stressed that countries, including major AI powers such as the United States and China, must work together to create common rules that ensure AI is developed and deployed safely.
The UK foreign secretary warned that AI could significantly amplify threats such as cyberattacks, fraud, disinformation campaigns, and terrorist activities. She noted that increasingly capable AI systems may enable hostile states and criminal organizations to launch more sophisticated attacks, making international standards for AI governance a pressing security priority.
Cooper also highlighted the UK's leadership role in global AI governance, pointing to its hosting of the world's first AI Safety Summit in 2023. She argued that international consensus on AI safety and guardrails is essential for societies to fully benefit from the technology's economic and scientific potential while minimizing its risks, adding that AI is likely to become one of the defining foreign policy issues of the coming years.
