Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that AI regulation will be at the core of Britain’s G20 presidency in 2027. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Burnham called for a unified set of global standards for frontier AI, including increased transparency and access to powerful models.
Mr Burnham stated that fundamental decisions regarding AI technology are too critical to be left to chance and should be made by elected governments. He compared the current challenge to the 2008 financial crisis, when G20 governments coordinated on common principles before implementing them domestically.
The government plans to use Britain's 2027 G20 presidency, which will conclude with a leaders' summit in Manchester, to seek agreement on these global principles and standards. This initiative aims to shift towards greater government oversight in AI development.
Mr Burnham's stance reportedly places Britain at odds with US President Donald Trump, who has rejected attempts to create a "globalist scheme" to control AI. Despite this, Mr Burnham met with President Trump in New York and unveiled a new UK-US partnership on AI and autonomous defence technology. Mr Burnham is positioning Britain as an "honest broker" to bridge differing approaches to AI governance internationally.
While acknowledging AI's potential for economic growth across sectors like healthcare, education, and defence, Mr Burnham also recognised concerns about job disruption and the capabilities of frontier systems. AI minister Kanishka Narayan has indicated that further regulation and new powers for domestic AI legislation remain under consideration.