UK Minister Warns AI Poses “Huge Risks” to National Security Without Stronger Safeguards

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh, deputy to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, told the TUC congress that artificial intelligence poses significant risks to the UK’s national security and society unless proper protections are established. She urged the government to heed warnings from those developing the technology and said the UK stood ready to work with international partners to prioritise public safety and national security, while acknowledging AI’s enormous potential for public services, businesses and science.

Her comments follow days of escalating concern among AI industry figures. Evan Hubinger, a researcher at Anthropic, has said there is a greater than 10% chance AI could kill all humans within a decade, echoing warnings from former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who resigned citing existential risk. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for slower, more closely monitored AI development, a position backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds cautioned against complacency but also against hyperbole, and dismissed proposals for a legal “kill switch” to shut down dangerous AI models, warning that overregulation could cut UK access to foreign-developed systems. Labour MP Alex Sobel said no country currently has adequate AI legislation in place.