AI: International Co-operation

Lord Davidson of Glen Clova Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd July 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Davidson of Glen Clova]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the call by China’s President at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference last week for “extensive international cooperation” regarding the development of AI.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Baroness Lloyd of Effra) (Lab)]

The Government agree that international co-operation on AI is essential. That is why we play a leading role internationally on AI, including work to support shared prosperity through the UN and OECD and to improve awareness of AI risks via our AI Security Institute and the International AI Safety Report. Given that the transformative scale of AI advances requires a strategic whole of government approach, the Prime Minister is establishing a new AI task force to take this all forward.

[Lord Davidson of Glen Clova (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for her informative Answer. The AI world is dividing into three blocks: the China side, the EU and the US. This is creating divergence, with diverging philosophies on state stability, individual rights and market form. Does the Minister consider that the UK has a convening power that it may use to guide governance of this powerful technology?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

AI can indeed be a powerful force for growth, scientific progress, better public services and sustainable development. We believe we can unlock this potential, working together with other countries, to build trust, to manage the risks and to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared widely. That is why the UK co-ordinates the international network of AISIs, which delivered the International AI Safety Report. We also fund practical partnerships with the OECD, the African Union and south-east Asia to support responsible AI adoption and drive growth worldwide.