Societal Impact of AI: Government Policy

AI is increasingly being used to make cutting-edge assistive technology for people with special educational needs and disabilities, but the industry is a bit of a wild west, and access for young people in areas such as Yeovil is uneven. Will the hon. Member join me in urging the Government to publish guidance for schools on best practices for AI assistive technology for SEND?

AI's rapid advancement necessitates safeguards to protect public value and wealth generation. Anna Gelderd advocates for a national data wealth fund to ensure the benefits of AI from public data are shared across communities, emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and regulation in the context of AI-generated content.

Ms Dodds emphasized the need for sovereignty in AI development, urging the Government to support UK niches like photonics and quantum technologies. She also called for greater cooperation with allies such as the EU and advocated for more robust public procurement policies that prioritize control and resilience over cost or short-term capability. Additionally, she highlighted concerns about unemployment due to AI and suggested launching a consultation on starting work in an AI-driven world.

Discussed the impact of protectionist policies on employment and called for a focus on resilience and leverage rather than tech sovereignty. He questioned the government's stance on EU AI Act regulations and requested a statement on social media and chatbot regulation.

Chris expresses public scepticism towards economic growth driven by digital technology due to concerns about environmental impacts and basic service delivery issues.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his excellent speech. There are lots of things about AI and its impact that we do not know. But one of the things that history teaches us is that if vast amounts of power and wealth are handed to a handful of individuals, corporations or even the Chinese Communist party—the outcome is usually not good for the vast majority of people. We can see that when a small group of people are allowed to define what reality and knowledge are, that in itself—well, we have all read "1984".

Damian Hinds commended the debate on AI's societal impact and highlighted that no one truly knows the full implications of AI at this moment. He acknowledged the challenges in labour markets, information integrity, and the need for a robust regulatory framework to protect children using AI tools.

She highlighted the historical significance of Bletchley Park and argued for Britain to be an AI maker rather than a taker, stressing the risks of depending on US tech firms. She mentioned Palantir's contract with the NHS and MoD as an example of dependency and cited social costs including public trust issues due to Palantir's controversial use in other countries.

AI can fuel the threat of disinformation, which inflames tension and distorts debate in Epsom and Ewell. She calls for regulation of AI and the Government to bring forward the AI Bill.

The intervention questions whether the dependency on six foreign tech companies poses a national security threat. Asked whether the government could wait 25 years to regulate AI, emphasizing that it is a major potential cause of harm and needs immediate attention. The right hon. Gentleman says no one knows, but throughout history, when we have approached technologies or situations that we have never experienced before, we have done scenario planning and risk assessments, and we have prepared as best as possible for scenarios that may be plausible or possible. Does he agree that when it comes to AI, we have been absolutely asleep at the wheel and that planning has not happened? AI, if not regulated properly, could lead to significant societal harm. He called for GAIP regulation in healthcare, independent statutory testing before AI release, and a kill switch for AI systems. Additionally, he raised concerns about the economic impact on private-hire drivers displaced by autonomous vehicles. Asked Helen Maguire a question but no full statement was provided. Asked how the government will fund public services when AI agents do not contribute to national insurance, income tax or pension contributions.

Jim focuses on job prospects for young people, questioning whether education and training preparations fall under this Minister's purview or another Department.

Lee highlights that moving to a service economy left some areas behind and urges planning for AI impacts to ensure benefits are spread across the country.

The Teesside region has the potential to bring nationally significant investment in new AI data centre infrastructure. He welcomes this investment and is open for business, but asks the Minister to commit to meeting with colleagues at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure governance arrangements around the Teesworks site attract business rather than deter it.

Stressed the importance of proportionate regulation for AI in healthcare to balance innovation with public trust and safety, citing an example from his constituency where Brave AI is used to identify vulnerable patients early.

Susan Murray addresses concerns over a proposed 300 MW AI data centre with battery storage near Bishopbriggs. She stresses the need for community benefits and local investment, highlighting the importance of building sovereign capacity in AI to avoid reliance on US policies that could limit UK access.

Ms Collins expressed concerns about the lack of strategic oversight in AI policy and the absence of an AI Bill. She highlighted the potential for AI to exacerbate inequalities, compromise security, and displace jobs while also offering significant benefits if harnessed correctly. She called for proactive measures such as supporting start-ups with tax credits, enhancing university spin-outs through increased funding, ensuring digital sovereignty in procurement, improving cyber-security standards, tackling AI-enabled fraud, and establishing a national people strategy to address the rapid changes in employment and education.