British intelligence flag threat to democracy; ‘Humanity could lose control of AI,’ warns Sunak

British intelligence agencies have issued warnings that Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems will pose a significant threat to political systems by 2025. These warnings were published ahead of the UK’s hosting of a global technology summit that focuses on the regulatory development of AI technologies, and they align with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s expressed concerns.

These warnings were presented in a series of papers released by the UK government, which discussed the risks and opportunities associated with Artificial Intelligence.

The papers, which were based on assessments by British intelligence agencies, as well as their evaluation of near-term threats, highlighted “Digital Risks” such as cybercrime and hacking as areas where generative AI models could have a notably negative impact.

Furthermore, the papers raised concerns about potential threats to democracy. They noted that as generative AI continues to develop and become more widely adopted, the likelihood of risks to political systems and societies will increase by 2025. These political risks are projected to become as significant as digital risks. The report specifically warns of threats related to the manipulation and deception of populations.

The papers also discussed scenarios involving the potential consequences of AI, such as increased unemployment and poverty by 2030, as well as contentious debates about the future of education and work.

Additionally, there were scenarios that envisioned open-source AI models capable of competing with humans on a wide range of tasks with high autonomy and agency.

In the lead-up to a global safety summit on technology, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that the UK would not hastily rush to regulate Artificial Intelligence. He announced the establishment of an AI safety body in the UK to assess and test new technologies.

Sunak emphasized the need for a “first-ever” joint statement by global leaders regarding the risks associated with Artificial Intelligence. He is expected to propose the creation of a global panel of experts to periodically report on the state of AI, akin to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

During a speech at the Royal Society, the UK’s academy of sciences, Sunak warned that in worst-case scenarios related to AI development, “humanity could lose control of AI completely.”