Liberal Democrats believe the UK must lead the world in building a future where artificial intelligence is developed and deployed ethically, transparently, and in the public interest. That’s why we are in favour of a workable and well-resourced framework for AI that is able to both promote innovation and protect the rights and freedoms of individuals.

In that vein, we would establish a cross-sector AI regulator which combines flexible, ethical oversight and technical expertise to ensure the UK keeps pace with rapid advances in technology.

This regulator would:

• Work closely with industry and civil society to ensure safety, accountability and trust.
• Ensure high ethical standards by developing legally binding requirements for risk assessment, testing, audit, and responsible design of AI systems.
• Introduce a code of ethics - a modern-day oath for AI professionals working on high-risk systems or at scale.
• Define clear goals for AI systems that align with human values, including establishing legally-binding red lines where AI cannot replace human judgment, such as in criminal justice decisions.

As part of this set of reforms, we would also strengthen public rights in the face of automated decision-making, including a new Digital Bill of Rights, and a statutory right to an explanation and appeal where AI has a significant impact on someone’s life.

The reality is AI is here to stay and a blanket ban would be both unfeasible and would neglect the potential opportunities presented by it. However, it is clear that it poses threats to public discourse, the environment, and jobs across all sectors. For this reason it must be properly regulated.