Concerns about the safety of artificial intelligence risk being ignored by the government, according to Chi Onwurah, chair of the Commons technology committee. The AI safety bill, designed to ensure technology companies submit their large language models for testing, is being delayed in order to maintain a favorable relationship with Donald Trump.

Onwurah has urged the government to bring forward the AI safety bill, emphasizing the urgency to address the safety concerns posed by AI models. The Guardian reported that the government intends to delay the bill’s publication until after the summer to align with the views of Trump, whose administration has been critical of Europe’s plans to regulate AI.

The Labour politician stated that it is crucial for the government to demonstrate its commitment to technology safety, particularly regarding AI, to ensure public trust. Onwurah criticized the government’s reluctance to publish the bill, raising questions about the influence of JD Vance’s stance against European regulation of AI on the UK’s legislative agenda.

Starmer’s approach to technology is partly influenced by the desire to appease the US president, contrasting with the previous government’s active endeavor to establish a global standard for AI safety. The UK, under Rishi Sunak, was part of a consensus with the US, EU, Australia, and China on the potential risks AI poses to humanity.

The government’s enthusiasm for AI is reflected in its plans to explore the technology’s potential for enhancing state efficiency and driving economic growth. However, this desire is also associated with the controversial proposal that would allow tech companies to use copyrighted material without creator approval to train AI models.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology remains committed to developing AI legislation that balances innovation with safety, as it consults with stakeholders. The government has promised a public consultation in the future to finalize its proposals for regulating AI.