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Artificial Superintelligence
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Alex Sobel
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
EconomyScience & Technology
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Alex Sobel raised concerns about artificial superintelligence in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce this Bill alongside respected colleagues representing parties across the House. This summer, artificial intelligence systems developed by OpenAI executed the first autonomous cyber-attack on a real company. The general-purpose AI systems used today are not coded line by line, like traditional software. Using vast amounts of data and compute, they are grown, not built. This results in systems that nobody fully understands or can reliably predict. Companies are spending billions to make superintelligent AI a reality, with risks that include the chance of ending all human life. My Bill is a targeted approach to address the grave security risks posed by superintelligent AI development, focusing on prohibiting its development and empowering the Government to monitor and restrict precursors to superintelligent AI. It also recommends working with other countries to secure an international agreement prohibiting superintelligence.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
While I commend the hon. Member for Leeds Central and Headingley (Alex Sobel) for raising important issues, I oppose the Bill because a unilateral disarmament on AI is not a solution to the international problem. China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran do not respect international treaties or laws, and we do not want to disable our own industry. However, I hope the debate will continue.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.