The UK’s plan to become a leader on AI technologies could be curtailed by the legislative advances of other nations, according to ministers on the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee.

The MPs have urged Sunak to introduce the legislation on the King’s Speech, scheduled for 7 November. Otherwise the earliest legislation could become law would be 2025, and then it would risk being overshadowed by international bills such as the EU’s AI Act, which would “become the de facto standard and be hard to displace”.

The MP’s report highlighted the government’s white paper published in March, which set out five AI guiding principles: safety, transparency, fairness, accountability and the ability of newcomers to challenge established players in AI. However, the document stated there was no intention to introduce new legislation to govern AI specifically. 

The committee disagreed. 

“The AI white paper should be welcomed as an initial effort...