Labour’s Peter Kyle set for AI talks with tech giants during Washington visit

3 February 2024, 22:34

Peter Kyle
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Picture: PA

The shadow technology secretary wants to discuss how the emerging technology could improve public services.

Labour’s shadow technology secretary is planning a flurry of meetings with tech giants to discuss artificial intelligence developments during a visit to the United States.

Peter Kyle arrived in Washington DC on Saturday in preparation for a week of discussions with the US government and tech firms, including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Google and Apple.

He will also meet others involved in developing artificial intelligence (AI), such as Oracle, Open AI and Anthropic.

Party officials said the Opposition frontbencher will use the talks with leading AI labs to discuss the potential for the emerging technology to improve public services, with plans to use it to speed up cancer scans and create personalised lesson plans for children.

UK businesses can benefit hugely from the innovation this latest wave of technology can bring

Shadow technology secretary Peter Kyle

Mr Kyle, whose brief also includes science, said he has already seen AI tools that he believes could have detected his mother’s lung cancer “earlier”, making its potential advancements in healthcare “personal”.

The MP for Hove, in an article for The Daily Telegraph in November, said his mother died 12 years ago, with her illness going undiagnosed for 18 months despite presenting to doctors with pain “numerous times”.

Speaking after arriving in the US, Mr Kyle said: “New technology is the greatest opportunity we have to restore our public services and grow the economy.

“I have seen AI tools which I believe would have caught my mum’s cancer earlier.

“It is personal for me to get this technology used in a way which keeps families together for longer.

“UK businesses can benefit hugely from the innovation this latest wave of technology can bring.

“A Labour government wants to unleash innovation and give companies the certainty needed to invest in our country, boosting wages and getting the economy growing again.”

Labour, which is well in front of the Conservatives in opinion polls ahead of a likely general election later this year, has said it will introduce a Regulatory Innovation Office to speed up existing AI regulations and make safety reporting requirements mandatory for labs at the heart of innovation with the technology.

In November, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chaired the first global AI summit at Bletchley Park as world governments look at regulating the technology, which experts have warned could pose a danger to humanity if not effectively controlled.

Andrew Griffith, the Conservative minister for science, said: “Despite attempts to mask their anti-business record and ideas, the reality is Labour can’t say how they would support businesses to use AI safely whilst utilising it to grow and thrive, because they do not have a plan.”

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

People ride an upward escalator next to the Dior store at the Icon Siam shopping mall on June 12, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Luxury fashion giant Dior latest high-profile retailer to be hit by cyber attack as customer data accessed

A plane spotter with binoculars from behind watching a British Airways plane landing

‘Flying taxis’ could appear in UK skies as early as 2028, minister says

Apple App Store

Take on Apple and Google to boost UK economy, think tank says

A survey of more than 1,000 employers found that around one in eight thought AI would give them a competitive edge and would lead to fewer staff.

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Hands on a laptop showing an AI search

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Music creators and politicians take part in a protest calling on the Government to ditch plans to allow AI tech firms to steal their work without payment or permission opposite the Houses of Parliament in London.

Creatives face a 'kind-of apocalyptic moment’ over AI concerns, minister says

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria, Uganda

Chimps use medicinal plants to treat each other's wounds and practice 'self-care' as scientists hail fascinating discovery

Close up of a person's hands on the laptop keyboard

Ofcom investigating pornography site over alleged Online Safety Act breaches

The Monzo app on a smartphone

Monzo customers can cancel bank transfers if they quickly spot an error

Co-op sign

Co-op to re-stock empty shelves as it recovers from major hack

The study said that it was often too easy for adult strangers to pick out girls online and send them unsolicited messages.

Social media platforms are failing to protect women and girls from harm, new research reveals

Peter Kyle leaves 10 Downing Street, London

Government-built AI tool used to cut admin work for human staff

In its last reported annual headcount in June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers

Microsoft axes 6,000 jobs despite strong profits in recent quarters

Airbnb logo

Airbnb unveils revamp as it expands ‘beyond stays’ to challenge hotel sector

A car key on top of a Certificate of Motor Insurance and Policy Schedule

Drivers losing thousands to ghost broker scams – the red flags to watch out for

Marks and Spencer cyber attack

M&S customers urged to ‘stay vigilant’ for fraud after data breach confirmed