Davey to call for treaty and global agency to halt super-intelligent AI
The party leader is expected to propose a nuclear-style non-proliferation treaty and a UK-based safety agency, while criticising the UK-US AI partnership.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is expected to call for a global treaty to pause the development of super-intelligent artificial intelligence in his keynote speech at the party conference in Brighton.
As reported by The Guardian, Davey will compare the risks of advanced AI with the nuclear arms race and propose an international safety agency modelled on the International Atomic Energy Agency, headquartered in the UK.
He is expected to argue that AI development is being shaped by a small number of powerful interests in California and Beijing without sufficient safeguards. His proposals follow warnings from AI researchers about potentially catastrophic consequences, including claims that AI could wipe out humanity within a decade.
Davey is also expected to criticise the UK government’s new AI partnership with the United States, arguing that it does not match the scale of the risks and could increase dependence on the Trump administration. He will oppose relying on Donald Trump and technology executives to manage the issue.
The Liberal Democrats have separately proposed a levy on big technology companies and a new online crime agency, with a focus on offences including child sexual abuse material, trafficking and deepfake pornography.
