Tony Blair has warned governments against giving in to a growing "techlash" concerning artificial intelligence (AI), stating that a slowdown in adoption could leave nations less prosperous and secure. A report from the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), released on Monday, indicates that political leaders in the US and UK are facing increasing pressure to curb AI development.
The TBI report argues that "doing less" in AI development may incur substantial long-term costs for economic growth and national security. Instead of either giving AI companies a free pass or responding to public anxiety by halting progress, the think tank proposes a more extensive system of independent testing and assurance. It also calls for a comprehensive overhaul of government operations to integrate AI more effectively.
According to TBI research, 38% of UK adults consider a lack of trust to be the primary obstacle to AI use. Furthermore, 61% of organisations reported that concerns about reliability have led them to delay or reduce planned AI investments. The TBI suggests that the government should prioritise AI assurance nationally, clarify liability for system failures, and use procurement and regulation to stimulate demand for independent testing.
The report also advocates for embedding AI within government structures to facilitate information sharing across departments and to model the consequences of policy decisions. It proposes AI systems that could track government commitments, request updates, and initiate pre-approved workflows, while ensuring their powers remain "bounded, auditable and revocable" and that human decision-making is preserved.