The Government’s founding document on AI regulation, the 2023 white paper “A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation”, admits that “most of us are only now beginning to understand the transformative potential of AI”. Yet more than three years on its principles are still not law, while AI infrastructure is being fast-tracked through AI Growth Zones and streamlined planning.
A new part of the paper sets out the criticisms we think can fairly be made: an admitted lack of understanding used as a reason to defer safeguards rather than adopt them; promotional and emotive language that promises more than the evidence supports; no consideration of the energy, water, land and carbon costs of AI’s infrastructure; and no reference to Wales or to devolved responsibilities for planning and water.
Three new questions have been added to the questions tracker. Read the full text on the AI in-depth page.