King Charles Announces New AI Regulation Bill in UK

In a significant address during the first Parliament session under the new Labour government on July 17, King Charles confirmed that legislation to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) is forthcoming. He emphasized the government's intention to establish requirements for developers of powerful AI models, aligning with the Labour Party's commitment following their decisive victory in the parliamentary elections on July 4. This move signals a potential shift from the previous Conservative government's more relaxed approach to AI regulation. Historically, the UK has adopted a laissez-faire stance on AI, contrasting sharply with the European Union's comprehensive 500-page AI Act. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had previously advocated for a "pro-innovation" strategy, focusing on research and guidelines rather than immediate regulation. However, the Labour government, led by new Secretary for Science, Innovation, and Technology Peter Kyle, is poised to take a more proactive approach, including the establishment of an incubator for AI technology. Labour's 2024 manifesto outlines ambitious plans to enhance AI research and innovation, proposing ten-year research budgets and the creation of a National Data Library for improved data sharing. Additionally, the party aims to ban the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes and regulate general-purpose AI technologies like ChatGPT. Experts, including Gaia Marcus from the Ada Lovelace Institute, stress the urgency for the government to maintain momentum and expedite the introduction of the proposed legislation.