Select Committee · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Oct 2022 Closed: 28 May 2024 17 recommendations 67 conclusions 2 reports

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 biased algorithms, a lack of …

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Governance of artificial intelligence (AI) HC 38 28 May 2024 62 Responded
Ninth Report - The governance of artificial intelligence: i… HC 1769 31 Aug 2023 22 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

8 items
13 Conclusion Ninth Report - The governance of artifi… Deferred

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 governance of AI. Following the Election it is unlikely that …

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 …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
14 Recommendation Ninth Report - The governance of artifi… Deferred

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 tightly-focussed AI Bill in the new session of Parliament. Our …

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
15 Recommendation Ninth Report - The governance of artifi… Deferred

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 paper principles, will be introduced in the next Parliament. It …

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 …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
22 Recommendation Ninth Report - The governance of artifi… Deferred

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 regulation—provides a major opportunity for the UK to be one …

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 …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
7 Conclusion Third Report - Governance of artificial… Deferred

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 assessment whether these criteria have been met. (Paragraph 35) The …

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 …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
9 Conclusion Third Report - Governance of artificial… Deferred

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 enacted as soon as possible after the General Election.

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 …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
24 Conclusion Third Report - Governance of artificial… Deferred

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 mission and its ability to increase public trust in the …

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 …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
62 Conclusion Third Report - Governance of artificial… Deferred

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)

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 …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Oral evidence sessions

9 sessions
Date Witnesses
13 Dec 2023 Rt Hon Michelle Donelan · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy View ↗
8 Nov 2023 Emran Mian · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Matt Clifford · AI Safety Summit View ↗
25 Oct 2023 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) View ↗
24 May 2023 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 View ↗
10 May 2023 Coran Darling · DLA Piper, Dr Hayleigh Bosher · Brunel University, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin · UK Music, Paul Fleming · Equity View ↗
29 Mar 2023 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 View ↗
8 Mar 2023 Professor Andrew Hopkins · Exscientia, Professor Delmiro Fernandez-Reyes · University College London, Professor Mihaela van der Schaar · Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine, Cambridge University View ↗
22 Feb 2023 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 View ↗
25 Jan 2023 Dr Manish Patel · Jiva.ai, Michael Cohen · University of Oxford, Mrs Katherine Holden · techUK, Professor Michael Osborne · University of Oxford and Mind Foundry View ↗

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Dec 2023 Correspondence from to Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technolog…
16 Nov 2023 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology relatin…