IEA Director General Mark Littlewood has written in The Times warning that the UK’s tendency to overregulate existing technology demonstrates the risk that it will lead the world in AI regulation, rather than cutting edge innovation.

Mark wrote:

“Unfortunately, however, based on the government’s recent approach to technology, the smart bet must be that Britain will begin with a fairly balanced approach but then will apply a ratchet effect to become ever more risk-averse. Ultimately, this could end up doing little or nothing for safety and merely choke off cutting-edge innovation.

“Unleashing the benefits of new technologies while extinguishing existential threats is a complex and difficult balancing act. However, on the course we appear to have set ourselves on, the likelihood is that the UK will not be at the cutting edge of AI innovation but instead the world leader in AI regulation. It’s not an ideal destination.”

Read Mark’s full piece here.