US ‘leaning on’ UK expertise for AI support, says Science Secretary

Small teams on both sides have exchanged hundreds of calls and emails since the Bletchley Park summit, with Britain providing advice on setting up the US institute while thrashing out a formal cooperation deal.

The two camps met face-to-face in March when they ducked into a quiet room on the sidelines of a G7 gathering in Verona.

Ms Donelan and Gina Raimondo, the US commerce secretary, have exchanged several calls on the deal. When they finally signed it this week, the pair high-fived after cameras recording the ceremony were switched off.

Meanwhile, Ms Donelan declared that Britain was leading the world in AI while hitting out at the EU, which voted to approve regulations last month.

“I think rushing to legislate in an area where technology is still not properly understood and the risks are still emerging means that you can end up with legislation that will quickly be out of date,” she said.

“The approach that we have taken will mean that we’ll be able to influence the global standards and the global approach.”

A spokesman for the Labour Party said: “A Labour government would work closely with the US on AI safety and economic opportunity and we will always ensure regulation can safely drive innovation and growth.

“The Government are right to collaborate with the United States on this crucial technology, but ministers are still missing a plan for domestic safeguards.

“The United States issued an executive order setting out rules and regulations to keep US citizens safe, but the UK is still lagging far behind.”

He noted that Peter Kyle, the shadow science secretary, had met with leading AI companies and members of the US commerce department.