Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Oct 2022 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased significantly in recent years. It offers a range of potential benefits such as quicker analysis of large datasets allowing more accurate information, forecasts and predictions, and more personalised public services. However, there are a number of concerns, such as the possibility of … Read more
17 Recommendations
67 Conclusions
2 Reports
9 Oral sessions
2 Letters
9 Events
Activity timeline 24 events
10 Jan
2025
Report published
28 May
2024
Report published
13 Dec
2023
Oral evidence
13 Dec
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
6 Dec
2023
Correspondence
16 Nov
2023
Report published
16 Nov
2023
Correspondence
8 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
8 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
25 Oct
2023
Oral evidence
25 Oct
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
31 Aug
2023
Report published
Oral evidence sessions 9 sessions
13 Dec 2023
View on parliament.uk
Work for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
Rt Hon Michelle Donelan · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
8 Nov 2023
View on parliament.uk
Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)
Emran Mian · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Matt Clifford · AI Safety Summit
25 Oct 2023
View on parliament.uk
Governance of AI
Dame Melanie Dawes · Ofcom Jessica Rusu · Financial Conduct Authority John Edwards · Information Commissioner's Office Kate Jones · Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum Will Hayter · Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
24 May 2023
View on parliament.uk
Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)
Dr Marion Oswald · The Alan Turing Institute and Northumbria University Dr Tony Mansfield · National Physical Laboratory Lindsey Chiswick · Metropolitan Police Michael Birtwistle · Ada Lovelace Institute
10 May 2023
View on parliament.uk
Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)
Coran Darling · DLA Piper Dr Hayleigh Bosher · Brunel University Jamie Njoku-Goodwin · UK Music Paul Fleming · Equity
29 Mar 2023
View on parliament.uk
Daisy Christodoulou · No More Marking Dr Matthew Glanville · The International Baccalaureate Joel Kenyon · Dormers Wells High School, Southall, London Professor Rose Luckin · University College London
8 Mar 2023
View on parliament.uk
Professor Andrew Hopkins · Exscientia Professor Delmiro Fernandez-Reyes · University College London Professor Mihaela van der Schaar · Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine, Cambridge University
22 Feb 2023
View on parliament.uk
Adrian Joseph · BT Group Hugh Milward · Microsoft Jen Gennai · Google Professor Dame Wendy Hall · University of Southampton Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt · Jesus College, University of Oxford
25 Jan 2023
View on parliament.uk
Panel One; Panel Two
Dr Manish Patel · Jiva.ai Michael Cohen · University of Oxford Mrs Katherine Holden · techUK Professor Michael Osborne · University of Oxford and Mind Foundry
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
Clear
13 Conclusion Deferred
Ninth Report - The governance of a…
AI-specific legislation unlikely before late 2025 without inclusion in King's Speech.
The Government is yet to confirm whether AI-specific legislation will be included in the upcoming King’s Speech in November. This new session of Parliament will be the last opportunity before the General Election for the UK to legislate on the … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it does not intend to introduce new legislation immediately, preferring an evidence-based approach and further learning through initiatives like the AI Safety Institute and Summit. It confirmed that further details on next steps for AI regulation will be provided in the white paper consultation response.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
14 Recommendation Deferred
Ninth Report - The governance of a…
Introduce a tightly-focussed AI Bill to establish regulator 'due regard' duties promptly.
The Government has said in the AI white paper that it may legislate, at a minimum, to establish ‘due regard’ duties for existing regulators. That commitment alone—in addition to any further requirements that may emerge—suggests that there should be a … Read more
Government Response
The government does not intend to introduce new AI legislation immediately, preferring an evidence-based approach and further learning about risks. They will provide more details on their next steps as part of the white paper consultation response.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
15 Recommendation Deferred
Ninth Report - The governance of a…
Confirm plans for AI-specific legislation and work undertaken exploring Bill contents.
In its reply to this interim Report, and its response to the AI white paper consultation, the Government should confirm whether AI-specific legislation, such as the introduction of a requirement for regulators to pay due regard to the AI white … Read more
Government Response
The government states it does not intend to introduce new AI legislation immediately and will not preempt its white paper response to confirm legislative plans for the next Parliament. They will set out further details on next steps as part of that consultation response.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
22 Recommendation Deferred
Ninth Report - The governance of a…
Accelerate establishment of comprehensive AI governance regime including necessary statutory measures.
We believe that the UK’s depth of expertise in AI and the disciplines which contribute to it—the vibrant and competitive developer and content industry that the UK is home to; and the UK’s longstanding reputation for developing trustworthy and innovative … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of an AI governance regime and has published a White Paper, but states it will not rush to introduce new legislation. An update on their approach will be provided through their response to the AI Regulation White Paper.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
7 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Governance of artif…
Publish quarterly reviews before Parliament on AI regulation efficacy and legislative trigger criteria.
The next Government should commit to laying before Parliament quarterly reviews of the efficacy of its current approach to AI regulation, including a summary of technological developments related to its stated criteria for triggering a decision to legislate, and an … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the committee's findings on the need for AI safety legislation and states its proposal to establish legislation for powerful AI models, along with an intention to consult on these proposals. However, it does not address the specific recommendation for quarterly parliamentary reviews of AI regulation efficacy or criteria.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
9 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Governance of artif…
Publish AI regulatory gap analysis results and enact necessary legislation swiftly after the election.
The next Government should conduct and publish the results its regulatory gap analysis as soon as is practicable. If the analysis identifies any legislation required to close regulatory gaps, this should be brought forward in time for it to be … Read more
Government Response
The government does not commit to conducting and publishing a specific regulatory gap analysis, instead affirming its strategy to rely on existing expert regulators. It highlights ongoing funding (£10m to boost AI capabilities for regulators, £2m for DRCF's AI and Digital Hub) and introduces the new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) to continuously inform the government of regulatory barriers.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
24 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Governance of artif…
AI Safety Institute's limited access to unreleased models undermines safety testing capabilities.
However, we are concerned by suggestions that the Institute has been unable to access as-yet unreleased AI models to perform the pre-deployment safety testing it was set up to undertake. If true, this would undermine the delivery of the Institute’s … Read more
Government Response
The government stated the AI Safety Institute (AISI) has tested models both before and after deployment and is actively engaged in safety testing. However, it states it would be counterproductive to identify developers with whom access has not yet been secured due to commercial sensitivity and ongoing complex negotiations.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
62 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Governance of artif…
Conduct international discussions on increased existential AI risk at AI Safety Summits.
Should the acuteness of existential AI risk be judged to have increased, discussions regarding the implications and possible response should take place in international fora, such as AI Safety Summits. (Paragraph 211) 60 Governance of artificial intelligence (AI) Read more
Government Response
The government responds by outlining its domestic plans to propose legislation and consult on a regulatory regime for powerful AI models to address immediate risks, and mentions existing national security community work, rather than directly addressing international discussions regarding increased existential AI risk.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 84 of 17 classified
Accepted 53
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 17
Deferred 8
Rejected 4
Total 17 recs + 67 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
6 Dec 2023 Correspondence from to Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to Chair, in relation to Governance of Artificial Intelligence, dated 24 November 2023
Parliament page
16 Nov 2023 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to the governance of artificial intelligence, dated 10 November 2023
Parliament page