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  • Oliver Dowden – 2024 Speech on CrowdStrike – IT Outage

    Oliver Dowden – 2024 Speech on CrowdStrike – IT Outage

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Conservative MP for Hertsmere, in the House of Commons on 22 July 2024.

    May I begin by welcoming the hon. Lady to her role and thanking her for advance sight of the statement? In that role I know she will be supported by a dedicated team of civil servants, who represent the very best of public service. I have no doubt that they will serve her as well as they did me.

    The hon. Lady will be aware of the enormous challenges facing this Government and those around the world in relation to cyber-security. As I warned when I was the responsible Minister, threats to public services and critical national infrastructure come from a range of challenges, from hostile state actors to human error and design flaws. Last week we saw those challenges vividly brought to life. Following the corrupted antivirus update by CrowdStrike on Friday, 8.5 million Microsoft devices globally were rendered unusable. That left airports disrupted, patient records temporarily lost and GPs unable to access important patient data, creating significant backlogs. That is more than an inconvenience.

    I pay tribute to all those working in our public services for the efforts they undertook over the weekend to restore those services, and to the work of dedicated cyber specialists across Government, including in the National Cyber Security Centre. In government we undertook a wide range of measures to enhance the nation’s cyber-security: creating the National Cyber Security Centre, introducing secure by design, setting cyber-resilience targets, launching GovAssure and transforming the oversight of governmental cyber-security.

    I note, as the hon. Lady said, that the Government intend to build on that progress by bringing forward a cyber-security and resilience Bill. Will she therefore outline the timetable for the Bill, and will the Government consider mandatory cyber-security targets for the UK public sector? Are the Government considering obligations to ensure that infrastructure is designed to be resilient against common cause problems, such as this one? What steps are being taken to enhance cyber-security in the devolved Administrations and in parts of the public sector such as the NHS, which are operationally independent?

    Specifically in relation to this incident, what assessment has been made of the prevalence of CrowdStrike within critical national infrastructure? What further reassurance can the Government give in relation to the timetable for full recovery of key systems and data? In particular, can the Minister assure employees that this month’s payroll will not be adversely affected?

    Britain’s cyber industry is world leading. Cyber-security now employs more than 60,000 people and brings in nearly £12 billion-worth of revenue annually. This transformation was in part due to our £5.3 billion investment, which launched the country’s first national cyber-security strategy. I therefore urge the Government—I see the Chancellor in her place—to continue such investment.

    Incidents such as that of CrowdStrike should not deter us from the path of progress. We must embrace digitalisation and the huge improvements to public services that it offers. The adoption of artificial intelligence across Government is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet for public sector productivity. However, if we are to command public confidence, people must be assured that technology is safe, secure and reliable. Such incidents demonstrate how reliant the Government and public services are on large technology companies, and how much responsibility they have for the services that have become critical to people’s lives and livelihoods. That is why, in government, I called for us to work more closely with leading technology firms to address these shared challenges. The best solution is partnership. To that end, what further engagement will the Minister undertake with Microsoft, CrowdStrike and the wider sector to ensure that there is no such recurrence?

    The task for us all is to build on existing progress that has transformed Britian’s cyber defences, and to enhance protections for British families, businesses and the very heart of Government. In that mission, the Government can rely on the support of the Opposition.

    Ellie Reeves

    I thank the shadow Minister for his contribution and his questions. In particular, I echo the thanks to all those in Departments across the civil service who were involved in dealing with the outage last Friday and in mitigating its effects. I set out in my statement that our cyber-security and resilience Bill, which was included in the King’s Speech, will strengthen our defences and ensure that more digital services are protected. That is a priority for this Government. The Bill will look at expanding the remit of regulation, putting regulators on a stronger footing and increasing reporting requirements, so that the Government can build a better picture of cyber-threats. We will consider the implications of Friday’s incident as we develop that legislation, but rest assured that we are working across Government to ensure resilience.

    As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said in his statement on the covid inquiry module 1 report, he will lead a review assessing our national resilience to the full range of risks that the UK faces, including cyber-risks.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2024 Speech on Economic Security

    Oliver Dowden – 2024 Speech on Economic Security

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 18 April 2024.

    We discuss economic security against the backdrop of Iran’s reckless and dangerous attack against Israel…

    … and six months since the terrorist outrage of October 7th with Hamas still holding innocent people hostage.

    It has been over two years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine…

    …meanwhile, China’s aggression in Xinjiang, the South China Sea, and Hong Kong demonstrates its disregard for the rules based order.

    We have returned to substrata geopolitical competition – and tension – at levels not seen since the Cold War.

    While we are not in open hostilities – we are in cyber and economic contestation with an increasing range of state and non-state actors.

    At a time when the global economy is much more integrated…

    … and our strategic competitors play a far more impactful role…

    … our economic and security interests are intertwined as never before.

    We have demonstrated our strength in the face of these challenges.

    We have restored stability after the twin shocks of Covid, and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine….

    … and continue to create the conditions for business to flourish.

    As the Deputy Prime Minister of a G7 country with the highest inward investment in Europe…

    …the continent’s biggest tech sector…

    …the biggest exporter of services after the US…

    … and the world’s most competitive financial centre…

    …I know we must be doing something right.

    Inflation has been halved…

    … real household disposable income is on the rise…

    … and the pace of growth is increasing.

    That is all testament to the Great British economic model which is the key to our long-term prosperity…

    …a model based on open markets … free trade … and academic liberty…

    …all underpinned by the rule of law.

    But we must also be clear-eyed that one of the great strengths of our system – its openness – also brings vulnerabilities.

    Covid, and Russia’s war in Ukraine both laid bare the interconnectedness of global supply chains…

    …and the extent to which they can be exploited:

    …Russia driving up the price of gas…

    … Chinese acts of economic coercion.

    Indeed, the CCP is seeking to make the world both increasingly dependent on China; whilst making itself less dependent on everyone else..

    Meanwhile, our open economy is being targeted by state-based actors and their proxies.

    Across our inbound and outbound investment flows, our imports and exports, and our academic collaborations…

    … the whole spectrum of our economic security interests is under threat.

    And the nature of these threats is evolving.

    So as our protections increase in one area, new routes of attack emerge.

    And so our response must evolve in kind.

    Our toolkits may be actor agnostic. But, be in no doubt that, we, the leaders who wield these tools, are clear about where the threats are currently coming from.

    In short, while the financial crash and pandemic exposed the economic risks of globalisation…

    …today’s rising geopolitical competition is demonstrating the security risks behind such integration.

    That confronts us with an active choice.

    A careful balancing act between our freedoms, our prosperity, and our security.

    There are those that see this simplistically…

    …who advocate a move to a polarised world…

    …where we detach ourselves from those who do not share our values, or who don’t play by our rules.

    That is not the approach of the UK Government.

    We will not decouple from the global economy. We will continue to default to openness. We must.

    That is what generates growth, guarantees our prosperity, and enables us to invest in our security.

    There is no greater source of resilience than a strong economy.

    So while we won’t decouple; we must de-risk;

    Our rules must constantly adapt.

    And politicians need to be honest about how we are responding:

    We have a plan, and I want to be open about that plan.

    Fundamentally, we need to tighten our controls over the routes by which the UK plugs into the global economy…

    … but in a way that allows investment and trade to flow as freely as possible.

    Those routes are diverse and complex. So our corresponding response needs to be subtle and agile.

    It starts with inbound investment.

    A great source of prosperity and pride for our country.

    I want to be crystal clear with our investment partners – the UK welcomes inbound investment, we are open for business, and my presumption will always be in favour of investment.

    But if we allow money to flow into our country unchecked, we leave ourselves open to abuse.

    This is the area of economic security where we are most developed, thanks to the National Security and Investment Act.

    Since coming into force, it has functioned well.

    The government has reviewed over 1,700 notifications and issued 20 final orders.

    Only 7% of notified transactions were called in for scrutiny, and only 1% were issued a final order.

    So the vast majority of businesses have had zero interaction with the regime, nor do we want them to.

    It typifies what is known as the small garden, high fence approach…

    … safeguarding the UK against the small number of investments that could be harmful to our national security, while leaving the vast majority of deals unaffected.

    That is not to say investment into sensitive areas is off limits…

    …but it must be managed in a way that protects our national security at the same time as driving growth.

    Indeed – to extend the metaphor just a little further – just as important as the garden is the ground that surrounds it.

    Beyond the fence should lie a vast and fertile landscape where trade and investment thrive.

    So to tend to this, we are constantly monitoring the Act’s performance to ensure it stays ahead of threats, while remaining as pro-business as possible.

    So today I have published the Government’s response to my recent Call for Evidence…

    …setting out the important next steps we will take to fine tune the NSI system:

    I will shortly publish an updated statement setting out how I use the powers under the Act…

    …including what we are seeking to protect and how we assess risk.

    And we will publish updated marked guidance, including how the Act can apply to academia.

    We will also update the mandatory area definitions…

    …including new definitions for critical minerals and semiconductors…

    and we will consult in the coming weeks.

    And finally, we will consider targeted legislative exemptions from the Act’s mandatory notification requirements.

    Likewise, when it comes to exports, we must ensure that the goods and technologies we sell overseas…

    …are not being used to harm our own national interest, or in a way that runs counter to our values.

    That is why we have an Export Controls regime, which we have significantly enhanced…

    …responding specifically to risks around new technologies such as quantum.

    Having reviewed the impact of these changes, we are confident we have a strong set of tools to prevent exports of concern.

    But we do recognise that this stronger regime has posed challenges to a small number of UK exporters.

    And really this is an indication of the trade-offs that the Government must navigate.

    And so we will consult on improvements to our controls on emerging technologies.

    We must ensure our system is flexible enough to deal with rapidly emerging threats…

    …that cases are processed more quickly and efficiently…

    … and that we maintain close collaboration with UK researchers and businesses.

    We also connect to the global economy through the import of goods and services.

    Again, we see deliberate attempts at weaponising import and export links through coercion …

    …including trade restrictions by China against Lithuania and by Russia against Ecuador.

    We have also seen examples where public sector procurement poses risks to national security…

    …from surveillance systems…to telecoms infrastructure…each featuring increased capability and connectivity.

    That is why I banned Huawei from our 5G networks, and Chinese surveillance equipment from key Government sites.

    It is not the role of Government to mandate sources of supply across the whole economy.

    We do, though, want business to be aware of the risks of excessive dependence…

    …and where possible to work with us to reduce it.

    And so we will continue to develop the UK’s Anti-Coercion Toolkit…

    … including investing in civil service capability…

    … increasing stress testing and exercising…

    … with more security-cleared officials…

    … and working with the G7 and other partners to tackle future threats.

    But there is one further, more challenging, area of economic security…

    …one that has concerned both us and our allies.

    And that is outward direct investment.

    Now of course the UK is a major source of global investment….

    …one of the few global financial centres.

    UK investors hold 14 trillion pounds of assets overseas…

    … in turn generating hundreds of billions of pounds annually.

    Yet a careful review of the evidence suggests it is possible that a very small proportion of outbound investments could present national security issues.

    Indeed, they might be fuelling technological advances that enhance the military and intelligence capabilities of countries of concern.

    The data is limited, but over the next year we will engage with G7 allies and businesses to better understand this risk…

    …and how our tools can mitigate it.

    In parallel we will evaluate whether further action is warranted.

    We are launching a dedicated analytical team to assess the risk in sensitive sectors…

    …and we will issue public guidance on how the existing NSI powers allow the Government to intervene in certain outbound investment transactions.

    And we are refreshing and enhancing the National Protective Security Authority’s ‘Secure Business’ campaign.

    So this is designed to ensure businesses can make better informed investment decisions.

    This plan of action is based on reassurance, protection, and engagement…

    …giving British business the clarity and coherence they need to plan and to thrive.

    We are not seeking to dampen animal spirits…

    …instead we aim to be precise, proportionate and coordinated.

    It is why I launched the public-private forum on economic security last year…

    …and why we put businesses at the heart of devising the National Cyber Security Centre, the National Protective Security Authority and the Investment Security Unit.

    And we will continue to iterate that support…

    …in particular helping smaller businesses to engage with government.

    I can announce that today the NPSA and NCSC are launching  a new tool…

    … to help small tech businesses and university spinouts assess and improve their security.

    Finally, we are coordinating closely with our universities.

    Our academic base is a jewel in our crown…

    …with four of the world’s top ten institutions.

    Just as openness has been crucial to our economic success…

    …internationalism has been vital to our academic prowess.

    The vast majority of that collaboration is to be welcomed and applauded.

    We should be proud that much of the cutting-edge development in sensitive technologies is happening at our universities.

    But this also has the potential to become a chink in our armoury.

    This is not about erecting fences around entire institutions or areas of research.

    However, it is right that we look at who has access to research frontiers in the most sensitive disciplines.

    Similarly, we must ensure that some universities’ reliance on foreign funding does not become a dependency by which they can be influenced, exploited, or even coerced.

    Or indeed, find themselves vulnerable in the fallout from heightened geopolitical tensions.

    That’s why the government has been conducting a review into academic security…

    … and I will be convening a round-table of university Vice Chancellors in the coming weeks to discuss our findings…

    …and our proposed response.

    In all of this, we do not act alone.

    We are working with our allies around the world…

    …evolving our trading relationships into economic security partnerships, such as  the Atlantic Declaration with the United States…

    …and the G7 Coordination Platform on economic coercion.

    Together, we will succeed in protecting our national security by safeguarding our economic security.

    Because what unites us … unlike our adversaries … is our values.

    Our societies prize innovation, ideas and the successes of individuals.

    We celebrate what we can make – not what we can take.

    We know that a creative, open, outward-facing economy is a strong economy…

    …and that a strong economy makes us all more secure.

    In these uncertain times, that economic model must adapt and respond to new threats…

    …but it must also remain true to the principles which have yielded prosperity, opportunity and security in the past.

    Our prosperity and our security are two sides of the same coin.

    We do not make ourselves more secure by being less open…

    Instead we redouble our efforts to make our open market as secure as possible.

    And in doing so we safeguard the United Kingdom’s position as the best place in the world …

    …to invest …

    …to study …

    …to trade with…

    …to live…

    … and to prosper.

    And long may that continue.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2024 Speech on AI for Public Good

    Oliver Dowden – 2024 Speech on AI for Public Good

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, at Imperial College on London on 29 February 2024.

    INTRODUCTION

    Ladies and gentlemen…

    The story of technological advancement is one of constant evolution…

    … punctuated by game-changing innovations.

    In my lifetime, the personal computer, the internet, the smart phone, have all made the tech world – and our interaction with it – unrecognisable.

    And they have all – in turn – transformed the way that citizens interact with government, and with public services.

    I believe another such game-changer has arrived…

    … in the form of transformative AI models – including Large Language Models – that enable computers and humans to interact in totally new ways.

    The last fourteen years has been a period of incremental tech improvements.

    The digital interfaces we use are largely recognisable.

    Yes – we have seized new opportunities…

    … such as rolling out gov.uk…

    … and making our services “digital by default”.

    But many of the systems that we use have not kept up with advances…

    … indeed some of them, I’m afraid to say, have not moved on at all.

    Modern AI has the potential to fundamentally change the way that public services operate within just a few short years.

    Indeed, if we are still working off the same systems – and in the same way – in another 14 years… or even frankly another two or three…

    …then we will have failed to embrace the opportunity that now lies before us.

    OPPORTUNITY

    And so, just as the UK is leading the world in the field of AI safety…

    … the Prime Minister has asked me to ensure we are leading the world in the adoption of AI across our public sector.

    The opportunity here is hard to put a value on…

    … although I notice the IPPR have estimated that there is the potential to save £24 billion each year from roll-out of these new technologies.

    So for me it’s only by the rapid adoption of AI that we will drive the savings needed to put us on a sustainable path to a smaller state and better delivery of services.

    The pace of change is such that new opportunities are being uncovered literally on a daily basis, and a new world is opening out before us…

    AI is potentially – and I don’t say this lightly – a ‘silver bullet’…

    … it dangles before us the prospect of increased productivity, vast efficiency savings, and improved services.

    We are already beginning to see glimpses of what these tools have to offer…

    … and so I’d like to paint a brief picture of what the world might look like if we get this right:

    VISION OF SUCCESS

    In healthcare – AI diagnostic tools could transform primary care…

    …with appointments transcribed in real time by ambient AI, then instantly producing prescriptions and referrals…

    …  scans read by AI with far greater accuracy …

    … and medicines tailored to individuals based on their genetics – again using AI.

    In education – … AI could help eliminate excessive paperwork …

    …freeing-up teacher time to focus on what they do best…

    …AI assistants could help teachers to adapt lessons to the specific needs of each pupil…

    … and AI-augmented reality can take interactive learning to another level.

    In crime prevention – AI can direct police to where they are most needed…

    … spot patterns of criminality to discover culprits quicker than ever…

    …and help keep the streets safer for everyone.

    And in all kinds of public sector casework – from immigration processing to benefit claims – AI can be used to summarise complex information…

    … enabling expert case-workers to spend more time actually making decisions.

    I could go on nearly forever to cover all areas of public administration…

    … because there are very few areas of the public sector that don’t have the potential to be enhanced by these tools.

    HOW DO WE GET THERE?

    The question, though, is how do we get there?

    I believe the measures we are bringing forward put in the structures, resources, and mindset…

    … to put the UK on the fastest path to successful adoption of public sector AI.

    Taking advantage of our unique strengths…

    … to revolutionise public services for everyone in the months and years ahead.

    Last year, I established a small team of data scientists, engineers and machine learning experts at the heart of Government – the Incubator for AI – or ‘i.AI’ – under the energetic leadership of Dr Laura Gilbert.

    The idea of these experts was to work with departments to target the biggest opportunities to both save money and deliver better public services.

    The quality of applicants for this program has been phenomenal.

    It is incredibly exciting to see such talented technical people choosing to enter public service…

    … bringing in new ideas to help change the way government delivers services.

    In a few short months this team of just 30 individuals have instigated 10 pilot programs, including…

    • AI to flag fraud and error in pharmacies – that costs the taxpayer £1 billion every single year.
    • A tool that will read and summarise responses to Government consultations, this says something about the scale of Government consultations, but this could save up to £80 million a year in central government alone…
    • And AI algorithms to help move asylum claimants out of hotels more efficiently… helping to save further millions.

    And I can also announce our intention to roll out a new gov.uk chatbot that will provide an interactive interface for people to better navigate Government information and services.

    But this is clearly just the very start…

    …I want to ensure that – where these pilots have proof of concept – we can scale them up as fast as possible…

    i.AI scale-up

    …And so, I can announce today that we will more than double the size of i.AI – to 70 people – recruiting the very best of British talent to drive this work across the public sector.

    This unprecedented influx of cutting-edge expertise into Government will enable us to design, build and – crucially – implement AI swiftly and at scale…

    Of course, there is still a huge role for the private sector – and I welcome the collaboration that we have with so many of the businesses in this room today.

    Nothing will match the strength and depth of the private sector AI innovation that is happening right now – and as all of you know so much of it here in the UK.

    But I believe that by embedding experts at the heart of Government…

    … and upskilling public servants to utilise these tools…

    …we will set ourselves up to deliver the benefits to citizens as quickly – and as efficiently – as possible.

    HORIZONTALS

    The other reason it is so important to have this team at the centre of Government is to ensure that – as AI rolls-out across the public sector – we adhere to the following principles:

    … sharing best practice…

    …deploying individual models to multiple use-cases…

    … finding economies of scale..

    … and, crucially, ensuring interoperability.

    Although I don’t claim for the moment to have the expertise needed to actually build AI models…

    … I can see that – like so many great inventions – there is something beautifully simple about what they are actually doing.

    Indeed, when you boil it down, I think there are four ways AI can be applied to much of public sector activity…

    … spotting patterns of fraud and error;

    … helping the public to navigate services;

    … managing casework;

    … and automating internal processes.

    And so the i.AI team have been looking across these applications with those principles in mind…

    … And I have agreed with the Treasury that we will make all funding for Government AI projects contingent on departments collaborating with i.AI.

    Never again should we be investing money in IT systems without considering how to make them as efficient and interoperable as possible…

    … or without robustly challenging both the timelines and the costs to deliver better value.

    I want to ensure that where we develop a tool for one department – we are considering where else it could be deployed.

    MINISTERIAL FORUM

    And do to facilitate this discussion…

    …to ensure departments are fully integrated into this cross-government effort…

    … we need a regular dialogue between all those involved across government.

    And so I am convening a meeting of the National Science and Technology Council on AI for public sector good …

    … alongside my Co-Chair, Michelle Donelan – our fantastic Secretary of State for Science and Technology.

    Every department has now designated a specific minister to be responsible for AI in their area…

    … and I have asked for them to meet on a regular basis.

    In the Cabinet Office, this work will be led by Minister Burghart…

    … and I want to thank him for the passion, purpose and drive that he has brought to the programme so far, as is often the case when you run a department you get to stand up and make the announcements, but actually Minister Burghart who has actually done the work to bring Government together to do this.

    WIDER PUBLIC SECTOR JOIN-UP

    Of course, central Government can only take this work so far…

    To truly maximise the benefits on offer we need to work with bodies and agencies right across the public sector.

    And so I am delighted to announce today that i.AI will sign a ‘Collaboration Charter’ with NHS England.

    This first-of-a-kind initiative will provide a framework for our experts in the incubator to support the NHS to identify and deploy AI solutions that improve services for patients.

    And I would urge other public sector bodies to consider doing exactly the same thing, I think it can bring enormous benefits

    RESOURCING

    There is no shortage in the Government’s ambition to use AI for public good.

    We have put the expertise and the structures in place…

    … and we are making progress on our early pilot projects…

    …but we also appreciate the investment that will be needed to make good on our ambition to see the UK leading the pack.

    And crucially, investment will be required both to improve services and cut costs…

    But also to pave the way for a leaner public sector.

    MITIGATING RISK

    Through all of this, we are conscious of the need to guard against the risks that have rightly been flagged.

    And, while every effort will be made to eliminate bias, misinformation, and hallucinations…

    … ultimately, we are very clear about the need for human oversight…

    … and a clear distinction between AI suggestions and support on the one hand…

    …and human decision making on the other.

    CONCLUSION

    I believe we can take the worst things about public services…

    …whether that’s the time-wasting, form-filling, pencil-pushing, computer-says-no, the mind-numbing-ness of it…

    … and the kinds of things that make us want to tear our hair out…

    We can take those things and we can turn them around with the help of AI.

    This is not about replacing real people with robots…

    …it is about removing spirit-sapping, time-wasting admin and bureaucracy…

    …freeing public servants to do the important work that they do best…

    … and saving taxpayers billions of pounds in the process.

    We’ve got the political will. We’ve got the world-class civil service. We have the big data. We have the tech companies.

    We are ready.

    So let’s not wait.

    Let’s lead the way…

    …and join me in the AI revolution today.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2024 Statement on Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC

    Oliver Dowden – 2024 Statement on Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC

    The statement made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 26 January 2024.

    The UK Government has approved the Strategic Relationship Agreement between Vodafone and e&. Using the National Security & Investment Act it has put in place proportionate measures to address any potential national security concerns.

    The UK is rightly a magnet for global investment and, in this spirit, the Act is entirely country-agnostic.

    Where investment might impact the UK’s national security – for example through the acquisition of certain technologies or infrastructure – we will work with investment partners to minimise any risk. As part of our Critical National Infrastructure, telecoms is one such sector. Vodafone is also a particularly important company for the UK Government given its critical functions, including as a key partner in HMG’s Cyber Security Strategy.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech on AI in Government

    Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech on AI in Government

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 20 December 2023.

    It’s great to be here, opening this sell-out event, and that was even before I was confirmed as a speaker.

    It is one of the biggest hands-on technical upskilling events the government has ever hosted.

    A historic event – and this is a historic moment in human history.

    Because artificial intelligence is changing everything – the way we live and the way we work.

    A big focus of the government has been on making sure those technologies are safe.

    Many of you were involved in delivering the world’s first ever AI Safety Summit, which took place at Bletchley Park earlier this month.

    But as well as the huge risks AI poses, there are also enormous opportunities – particularly for us in the public sector to transform productivity.

    As the Chancellor said at the weekend, some public servants waste a whole working day each week on admin.

    I’ve worked in government for many years and I know the frustrations.

    You just want to get on with your work – but it isn’t that easy.

    Stifled by systems.

    Bogged down by bureaucracy.

    Peed off by processes that haven’t changed in decades.

    No wonder, as Jim Hacker says in Yes Minister, “it takes time [for the civil service] to do things quickly” and “it’s more expensive to do things cheaply”.

    Well, all that can change – with the help of AI.

    The potential productivity benefits from applying these technologies to routine tasks across the public sector are estimated to be worth billions.

    The UK is already leading the way: ranked third in the Government AI Readiness Index and attracting £18 billion of private investment since 2016.

    Traditionally, though, the public sector has not been the fastest adopter.

    But with AI it doesn’t have to be that way.

    We have the big data.

    We have the large workforce.

    We have the finest minds and the keenest beans and a government which is one hundred per cent behind this, driven by our Prime Minister.

    So many sectors are embracing the opportunities and the benefits are being felt across society.

    90 per cent of stroke units are now using cutting-edge AI tools.

    Thousands of teachers have signed up to a pilot AI-powered lesson planner and quiz builder.

    We’re bringing that spirit to Whitehall.

    We’ve got civil servants upskilling through this One Big Thing initiative.

    Earlier this month I announced we were trialling AI red boxes to reduce paperwork. An idea that sprung from an Evidence House hackathon which many of you in this room took part in.

    And today I can unveil plans for a new, turbo-charged, ‘Incubator for AI’ team.

    Job adverts go live today – on our new website – ai.gov.uk – to boost this team to an initial 30 people technical AI experts, programme managers, product managers and engagement specialists all working together to rapidly enhance the adoption of AI through a centre of excellence.

    One of their first tasks will be to assess which Government systems have data curated in the right way to take advantage of AI and which systems need updating before that full potential can be harnessed.

    I think of the potential of this work, from correspondence to call handling, from health care to welfare.

    I don’t mean replacing real people with robots, or adding to the frustrations of dealing with government.

    I mean removing the things that annoy people most in their dealings with officialdom – namely the time it takes to do things quickly.

    Imagine that transformation from computer says no, to computer says yes.

    And we can all be part of that – we all deal with digital and data in some way or another.

    So let us, the civil service, be the early adopters.

    Let us be the trailblazers.

    Let Whitehall show the country – and the world – how it’s done.

    The revolution has just begun.

    Thank you.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech on Cyber Operations

    Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech on Cyber Operations

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 7 December 2023.

    Of all the risks that this country faces… there are none that are evolving more rapidly than those in the cyber domain.

    More actors…

    Have more sophisticated tools…

    To target more people…

    Than ever.

    Protecting the public from cyber attack is a matter of the utmost importance.

    Let’s be clear what’s being targeted here.

    The critical services that government delivers:

    Our public finances…

    Our roads and railways…

    Our schools…

    Our health service…

    Our armed forces…

    Even the heart of central government itself.

    Of all the vaults that cyber criminals are desperate to crack into…

    … this one contains some of the greatest rewards.

    That’s why we see so many attempts to breach our digital defences.

    Last year, 40 per cent of the attacks addressed by the National Cyber Security Centre were against the public sector.

    In a world where the new frontline is online…

    …the people in this room are manning the barricades to keep us safe and secure…

    … and for that I want to say thank you.

    Despite the challenges we face, our cyber defences are stronger than ever.

    Since it was published two years ago, the Government Cyber Security Strategy has been a game-changer.

    Work is well underway to ensure that government’s most critical functions are significantly hardened to cyber attack.

    And we have established ambitious targets that will see all government organisations made resilient to known vulnerabilities and common attack methods.

    Through GovAssure – which I launched in April – we have transformed the oversight of governmental cybersecurity…

    And the new ‘Government Cyber Coordination Centre’ – better known as ‘GC3’ is bringing together a community of cyber defenders from across government…

    …sharing best practice…

    … and showing that a “whole of government approach” is not a slogan, it’s a reality.

    Working together with the National Cyber Advisory Board… (which I Chair)…

    …and of course the National Cyber Security Centre.

    All of you play a crucial role in iterating the strategy…

    … and ensuring it is implemented right across Government.

    Your work never stops… because the risk of attack never stops.

    The threats we face are increasing and the nature of those threats is evolving.

    Technologies are developing at an exponential rate…

    …and have lowered the bar for hostile actors – states and criminals.

    The biggest cyber threats are not just to our public services but the democratic means by which we deliver them.

    Some states are likely to be harnessing significantly more sophisticated technology to sow confusion and dissension and chaos in our society.

    Malicious actors continue to target high profile people within the political process.

    This is not an abstract possibility. We have already seen it…

    In Ukraine – with deep-fakes of President Zelensky…

    In the US – where Iranian hackers have been indicted for undermining voter confidence and sowing discord…

    And here in the UK – with our Electoral Commission targeted by a complex cyber attack.

    As I warned at CYBERUK in Belfast in April…

    …the greatest risks still emanate from the “usual suspects”…

    …China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

    But they are increasingly using ‘Wagner-style’ sub-state hackers to do their dirty work.

    Today in concert with our Five Eyes and Euro-Atlantic partners….

    I can tell you that a unit within the Russian Federal Security Service, known as Centre 18, has been behind sustained hostile cyber operations…

    …aimed at interfering in parts of the UK’s democratic processes…

    This has included targeting members of parliament…

    …Civil servants, think tanks, journalists, and NGOs…

    …through a group commonly known as Star Blizzard.

    This group, operated by FSB officers, has also selectively leaked and amplified information designed to undermined trust in politics, both in the UK and in like minded states.

    A senior representative of the Russian government has been summoned to the Foreign Office this morning and appropriate sanctions have been levelled.

    Our political processes and institutions will continue to endure in spite of these attacks.

    But they serve to prove that the cyber threat posed by the Russian Intelligence Services is real and serious.

    It is a stark reminder that…

    as we in government develop our capabilities…

    …so do our adversaries, and those who do their bidding.

    We are in a cyberspace race…

    …them – to develop the tools to do us harm…

    …us – to build the defences needed to protect against their attacks.

    Next year, 3 billion people in 40 countries will head to the polls …

    … and it is a fact that hostile state actors will continue to seek to undermine these collective expressions of democracy…

    …because they fear the freedoms they represent.

    We must – all of us – do all we can to resist.

    There are two main ways in which we can get ahead:

    Strengthening our cyber security systems…

    …and improving our skills.

    First, our systems.

    It wasn’t that long ago that the government was still using fax machines.

    I worked for the administration that helped to bring Whitehall into the digital age…

    …and made our services “digital by default”.

    The challenge is to make those digital systems “secure by design”…and to embed effective cyber security practices into our digital delivery.

    That’s why I am announcing today that we will make security everyone’s responsibility…

    …and make “secure by design” mandatory for central government organisations.

    This approach is already inspiring our partners around the world…

    …and, like our earlier digital revolution, is likely to be emulated around the world.

    Your role in embedding this approach at home will be crucial.

    Then there is the question of skills.

    In this room we have a wealth of deep technical expertise…

    …and we have the ability to share and collaborate with our international partners.

    But we need the experts of the future to be coming up, through that pipeline, to meet the challenges of the future.

    In the UK, as around the world, the shortage of cyber skills affects both the public and private sectors.

    It is estimated that we have a shortfall of around 14,000 professionals….

    …and that shortfall is particularly stark in the public sector.

    As one of the largest employers of cyber security experts, the government’s actions can make a real difference to the makeup of the national profession.

    So we have launched apprenticeship and fast stream programmes focused specifically on finding and developing  cyber talent.

    This is the new frontline.

    And we must form a united front…

    …government, business, academia, individuals, all coming together to pre-empt and ward off these risks.

    Not just “whole of government” – but “whole of society”.

    It is what we have that our adversaries and their agents lack: unity.

    And there are huge opportunities in that…

    …particularly for our entrepreneurs and innovators.

    They will develop the defensive technologies that will protect not just this country… but the world.

    Britain has the opportunity to lead … in tech, in AI and in cyber…

    …because the best place in the world to do business must also be the safest place in the world to do business…

    …and together we can make that a reality.

    Thank you.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech to the Future Investment Initiative

    Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech to the Future Investment Initiative

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, in Riyadh on 24 October 2023.

    Today’s theme is ‘defining dynamism amid global shocks’.

    And there could be no more apt place to discuss dynamism than Saudi Arabia.

    The pace of change in the Kingdom is dizzying:

    Asserting global leadership from the Gulf…

    …rocketing up the rankings for ease of doing business…

    …leapfrogging the world’s largest economies…

    …embracing technological change…

    … and transforming an economy fuelled by oil… into one powered by renewables…

    …making Vision 2030 not just a vision, but a reality.

    That is true dynamism: embracing change, and leading the charge.

    With your megacities and giga-projects, Saudi is not just adopting clean technologies but pioneering them…

    …delivering solutions that we will all be using in the future.

    So That’s why the UK is proud to partner with you in a huge array of areas, such as financial services, clean energy, urban regeneration, academia, defence, sports, e-gaming and more.

    Truly a partnership for the future.

    AGE OF SHOCKS

    But we do so in a world where shocks have become the new norm.

    We rightly refer to them as global shocks because their impact ripples from the epicentre right across our planet.

    The great financial crisis … the Covid pandemic … Russia’s invasion of Ukraine …

    …Record temperatures and devastating natural disasters…

    …and, of course, the brutal strike into the heart of Israel by Hamas terrorists just two weeks ago…

    …the very worst of humanity.

    Thousands of people have died horrifically… unnecessarily.

    Tens of thousands more are injured, or are in mourning.

    And millions are now living in fear of the consequences.

    This has caused untold misery and has led to deep, widespread insecurity.

    And we stand with all innocent victims of this conflict.

    Urging respect for international humanitarian law…

    And for parties to take every possible step to avoid harming civilians.

    And we welcome ongoing efforts to open up humanitarian access to Gaza…

    …we have pledged millions extra in aid…

    …and we remain committed to the two state solution.

    Britain stands together to reject terror, hate and prejudice.

    …and to reset the path to peace and long-term stability.

    TRADITIONAL SECURITY

    And as the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister has tasked me personally to drive cross-Government resilience towards shocks of all kinds.

    Understanding the nature of the threats we face today…

    …and scanning the horizon to predict the threats we may face tomorrow.

    The first duty of every government is to protect their civilians.

    Of course, our first line of defence is always our armed forces.

    Those brave men and women are our resilience personified.

    And the UK and Saudi Arabia have a proud partnership in security which stretches back into our history…

    …sharing intelligence, exchanging military hardware, training alongside one another…

    …and continuing into the future with our world-leading Typhoon jets.

    ECONOMIC SECURITY (AND TECH SHOCKS)

    But increasingly, the ripples of recent global shocks…

    …reverberate in an economic sense…

    …disrupting supply chains… driving up energy prices… and causing food shortages.

    And it on this economic front, where I am leading the UK’s charge to be out in front, in terms of our resilience…

    …developing and retaining critical domestic capabilities…

    …screening investment into UK companies…

    …protecting Government procurement from national security threats…

    …and better understanding our supply chains.

    As we scan the horizon, we see that rapid technological advancements will only make this task more urgent.

    We’ve had a glimpse into this future…

    …with cyberattacks bringing public services to a halt…

    …and ransomware wiping millions off companies’ share prices.

    Deepfakes have duped consumers…

    …bots have interfered in elections…

    …and intellectual property has been stolen from businesses and academic institutions.

    Now so far, these have been relative skirmishes…

    …wrought by an unholy alliance between hostile states and non-state actors.

    But with the enormous potential of artificial intelligence and quantum computing…

    …there is a very real possibility that the world’s next shock will be a tech shock.

    And so next week the United Kingdom will be convening the world’s leading nations and pioneering AI companies for the first global frontier AI safety summit.

    These emerging technologies represent exciting opportunities.

    …they exist at the cutting edge of development, often yet to be commercialised and with unknown end applications…

    But we also know that hostile state actors are actively seeking these technologies for their own competitive advantage…

    … or even to enhance their military capability.

    And the most valuable commodities to both businesses and nations are increasingly the source code… the technical designs… or other – intangible – intellectual property that underpins innovation.

    Where they have a military or dual-use application, traditional means of controlling these transfers are often simply not enough.

    These Intangible products can now be exported in a second – attached to an email…

    ….with no customs official to check any documentation…

    …nor a list of multilaterally agreed product categories to check against…

    …because these technologies have only just been invented…

    …often in small university spin-outs, rather than the established defence contractors used to working with Government.

    This dynamism in the tech sphere, must be met with dynamism within Government.

    Now I know that ‘Dynamism’ and ‘Government’, not, perhaps, two words which you often put together…

    But we cannot afford not to be…

    This is why I am reviewing our tools to ensure they are fit for purpose:

    • Examining our export regime controls, to ensure that it is striking the right balance for emerging technologies relevant to national security…
    • Exploring other paths through which this sensitive technology can leak out unchecked such as through outbound investment flows…
    • And working with academic institutions and start-ups to ensure they are alert to the risks, and have the toolkit to protect themselves.

    We need to build a policy environment that provides the private sector with the confidence to innovate…

    Confidence to build partnerships…

    Confidence to grow.

    Economic security should never be seen as a constraint on growth.

    It is an enabler of it.

    UK-KSA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

    So just as allies work together on physical security, so we need to work together to build economic security.

    Just as important as the collaboration between nation states is the partnership between Government and business.

    Which is why, earlier this year, we established the National Protective Security Authority within MI5 – so that our security services can support business in understanding and protecting themselves against the threats they face.

    The partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia is a fine example of the collaboration we need.

    We made the green finance deal made last year – ensuring we protect our energy needs for the future…

    We’ve made an agreement on critical minerals this year – enhancing our collaboration and exploring new sources of supplying these elements that are so vital to our future prosperity and national security.

    And through to next year I will personally be prioritising building the bond between our two kingdoms.

    So today I can announce that I will be leading a new strand of engagement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  to enhance our cooperation and mutually-beneficial investment relationships, building on similar relations across the gulf.

    The partnership between our kingdoms has helped to shape the world we live in, and will be a linch-pin of shaping the future through to 2030.

    But just as important as the collaboration between nation states, is the partnership between government and business.

    So I will be Chairing a new Public-Private Forum between Government and business on economic security challenges… with the first meetings later this year.

    And I want to be very clear to all of you, that my door is always open to investors to discuss our economic security agenda.

    And our first task when Prime MInister Rishi Sunak was to restore the predictability and stability that investors so cherish in the United Kingdom.

    Our task now is to drive growth, jobs, prosperity and investment. And I know that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be a key partner in that mission.

    PROSPERITY AGENDA

    But we should also never underestimate how much our peace, stability, and resilience to shocks are underpinned by our prosperity.

    A strong, growing economy doesn’t just allow you to invest in your armed forces….

    …it also allows you to deliver for your people…

    …it is a signal to the world that you are a serious partner and a key player.

    Those who will succeed in this age of uncertainty, as new economic powers vie for pole position…

    …are those with the fastest-growing, most vibrant, dynamic economies.

    And those nations – and those businesses – will get to shape the new global order.

    And the UK is laser-focused on that prosperity agenda.

    We are wide open for business…

    …a world-leader in climate solutions, life sciences and creativity…

    …a wonderful place to invest and innovate…

    …and a partner with whom to seize technological opportunities.

    Happily these areas where we excel are the areas where Saudi wants to grow.

    So your Vision 2030 is our vision too.

    We’re by your side…

    …with scores of fund managers flocking to Riyadh…

    …and hundreds of UK businesses operating all across Saudi.

    Meanwhile, of course London’s global financial centre remains committed to being the preferred hub for this part of the world…

    …thousands of Saudi students and tourists are in Britain…

    …and Saudi investment is benefitting every corner of our country.

    That is all part of a deepening partnership with the wider GCC – the UK’s 7th largest export market…

    …and with whom we hope to increase trade still further through a free trade agreement.

    Geopolitical shifts are a great challenge to all our economies…

    …but we can turn them into an opportunity to build a new world order based on rules, competition, open markets, innovation and investment.

    Because that is the definition of dynamism: turning challenges into opportunities.

    Not ignoring the threat of climate change but seizing the opportunities we have to build a green future.

    Not shunning artificial intelligence but using it to solve some of the greatest problems we face.

    Not turning inwards as new powers emerge and challenges arise, but forging new alliances and strengthening old ones.

    That is how we will withstand shocks, build resilience and embrace opportunities for all our people.

    Thank you.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2023 Statement at the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit

    Oliver Dowden – 2023 Statement at the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit

    The statement made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 19 September 2023.

    Your Excellencies. It is half time on the SDGs, and our collective promise is in peril.

    The UK was instrumental in developing Agenda 2030 and its SDGs.

    Today we recommit to them – and to reforming the international financial system that will play such a big role in helping us deliver them.

    We are driving reforms of the Multilateral Development Banks including stretching their balance sheets to release over $200bn of additional finance over the next ten years.

    To support this, the UK is announcing two innovative guarantees to scale up MDB lending one to unlock $1 billion in education financing and one to unlock up to $1.8 billion of climate finance for Asia-Pacific countries.

    I also reiterate our support for a bigger and better World Bank, which increases voice and

    representation of the poorest and most vulnerable.

    We support reforms to make the MDBs more agile, more shock responsive and better able to mobilise more private investment.

    We encourage MDBs and all other creditors to offer Climate Resilient Debt Clauses – pioneered by the UK – to pause debt repayments when disaster strikes.

    We will continue to mobilise billions through British Investment Partnerships for energy transitions and infrastructure –$40 billion by 2027 and we will support countries to collect taxes owed to them to invest in their development, with a new £17 million package of support.

    We must of course meet our global climate finance goals which is why at the G20, the Prime Minister announced $2 billion for the Green Climate Fund the biggest single commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change.

    We must maintain the spirit of partnership that created the SDGs as we ensure the financing and investment to deliver them.

    We will do that through UK-hosted Summits on Food Security, AI, and Investment in Africa keeping up momentum through the autumn, into 2024, and all the way to 2030.

    Thank you.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech to the UN General Assembly

    Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech to the UN General Assembly

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 23 September 2023.

    Mr President,

    As we meet here this evening millions of people in Morocco and Libya continue to struggle with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and catastrophic flood.

    Let me extend the sympathy of the British people to all those who have lost loved ones.

    Our search and rescue teams have been deployed in Morocco and we have increased our humanitarian support for Libya.

    We will continue our support – alongside many other nations represented here in the weeks and months to come.

    This week, nations have gathered here to recommit to addressing the biggest challenges we face.

    Climate change, with catastrophic weather events telling us to act, now.

    The Sustainable Development Goals… and how to get them back on track after Covid.

    Migration, with millions crossing borders and dangerous seas, at the mercy of human traffickers.

    And Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine… an attack on a sovereign member of the United Nations by a Permanent Member of its Security Council.

    The most heinous assault imaginable on everything this organisation stands for, and was founded to prevent.

    With consequences felt not just by the brave people of Ukraine, but by millions more across the globe.

    Those hit by food shortages – particularly in developing countries – are Putin’s victims too.

    Russia could end this war tomorrow. Putin could end this war tomorrow. That is what the world demands.

    But until that happens, the United Kingdom will stand alongside Ukraine.

    Whatever it takes.

    For weeks, for months – if necessary, for years.

    Because if these United Nations – in which the United Kingdom believes, and helped to found – are to count for anything, it is surely for the cardinal principle that aggression cannot, and must not pay.

    These are the issues of the moment.

    But I want to focus on another challenge.

    A challenge that is already with us today, and which is changing – right now – all of our tomorrows.

    It is going to change everything we do – education, business, healthcare, defence – the way we live.

    And it is going to change government – and relations between nations – fundamentally.

    It is going to change this United Nations, fundamentally.

    Artificial Intelligence – the biggest transformation the world has known.

    Our task as governments is to understand it, grasp it, and seek to govern it.

    And we must do so at speed.

    Think how much has changed in a few short months.

    And then think how different this world will look in five years or ten years’ time.

    We are fast becoming familiar with the AI of today, but we need to prepare for the AI of tomorrow.

    At this frontier, we need to accept that we simply do not know the bounds of possibilities.

    We are as Edison before the light came on, or as Tim Berners-Lee before the first email was sent.

    They could not – surely – have respectively envisaged the illumination of the New York skyline at night, or the wonders of the modern internet.

    But they suspected the transformative power of their inventions.

    Frontier AI, with the capacity to process the entirety of human knowledge in

    Seconds, has the potential not just to transform our lives, but to reimagine our understanding of science.

    If – like me – you believe that humans are on the path to decoding the mysteries of the smallest particles, or the farthest reaches of our universe, if you think that the Millenium Prize Problems are ultimately solvable, or that we will eventually fully understand viruses, then you will surely agree that by adding to the sum total of our intelligence at potentially dizzying scales.

    Frontier AI will unlock at least some of those answers on an expedited timetable in our lifetimes.

    Because in AI time, years are days even hours.

    The “frontier” is not as far as we might assume.

    That brings with it great opportunities.

    The AI models being developed today could deliver the energy efficiency needed to beat climate change, stimulate the crop yields required to feed the world, detect signs of chronic diseases or pandemics, better manage supply chains so everyone has access to the materials and goods they need, and enhance productivity in both business and governments.

    In fact, every single challenge discussed at this year’s General Assembly – and more – could be improved or even solved by AI.

    Perhaps the most exciting thing is that AI can be a democratising tool, open to everyone.

    Just as we have seen digital adoption sweep across the developing world, AI has the potential to empower millions of people in every part of our planet, giving everyone, wherever they are, the ability to be part of this revolution.

    AI can and should be a tool for all.

    Yet any technology that can be used by all can also be used for ill.

    We have already seen the dangers AI can pose: teens hacking individuals’ bank details; terrorists targeting government systems; cyber criminals duping voters with deep-fakes and bots; even states suppressing their peoples.

    But our focus on the risks has to include the potential of agentic frontier AI, which at once surpasses our collective intelligence, and defies our understanding.

    Indeed, many argue that this technology is like no other, in the sense that its creators themselves don’t even know how it works.

    They can’t explain why it does what it does, they cannot predict what it will – or will not – do.

    The principal risks of frontier AI will therefore come from misuse, misadventure, or misalignment with human objectives.

    Our efforts need to preempt all of these possibilities – and to come together to agree a shared understanding of those risks.

    This is what the AI Safety Summit that the United Kingdom is hosting in November will seek to achieve.

    Despite the entreaties we saw from some experts earlier in the year, I do not believe we can hold back the tide.

    There is no future in which this technology does not develop at an extraordinary pace.

    And although I applaud leading companies’ efforts to put safety at the heart of their development, and for their voluntary commitments that provide guardrails against unsafe deployment, the starting gun has been fired on a globally competitive race in which individual companies as well as countries will strive to push the boundaries as far and fast as possible.

    Indeed, the stated aim of these companies is to build superintelligence.

    AI that strives to surpass human intelligence in every possible way.

    Some of the people working on this think it is just a few years away.

    The question for governments is how we respond to that.

    The speed and scale demands leaders are clear-eyed about the implications and potential.

    We cannot afford to become trapped in debates about whether AI is a tool for good or a tool for ill; it will be a tool for both.

    We must prepare for both and insure against the latter.

    The international community must devote its response equally to the opportunities and the risks – and do so with both vigour and enthusiasm.

    In the past, leaders have responded to scientific and technological developments with retrospective regulation.

    But in this instance the necessary guardrails, regulation and governance must be developed in a parallel process with the technological progress.

    Yet, at the moment, global regulation is falling behind current advances.

    Lawmakers must draw in everyone – developers, experts, academics – to understand in advance the sort of opportunities and risks that might be presented.

    We must be frontier governments alongside the frontier innovators.

    The United Kingdom is determined to be in the vanguard, working with like-minded allies in the United Nations and through the Hiroshima G7 process, the Global Partnership on AI, and the OECD.

    Ours is a country which is uniquely placed.

    We have the frontier technology companies.

    We have world-leading universities.

    And we have some of the highest investment in generative AI.

    And, of course, we have the heritage of the Industrial Revolution and the computing revolution.

    This hinterland gives us the grounding to make AI a success, and make it safe.

    They are two sides of the same coin, and our Prime Minister has put AI safety at the forefront of his ambitions.

    We recognise that while, of course, every nation will want to protect its own interests and strategic advantage, the most important actions we will take will be international.

    In fact, because tech companies and non-state actors often have country-sized influence and prominence in AI, this challenge requires a new form of multilateralism.

    Because it is only by working together that we will make AI safe for everyone.

    Our first ever AI Safety Summit in November will kick-start this process with a focus on frontier technology.

    In particular, we want to look at the most serious possible risks such as the potential to undermine biosecurity, or increase the ability of people to carry out cyber attacks, as well as the danger of losing control of the machines themselves.

    For those that would say that these warnings are sensationalist, or belong in the realm of science-fiction, I simply point to the words of hundreds of AI developers, experts and academics, who have said – and I quote:

    “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.”

    I do not stand here claiming to be an expert on AI, but I do believe that policy-makers and Governments ignore this expert consensus at the peril of all of our citizens.

    Our Summit will aim to reach a common understanding of these most extreme risks, and how the world should confront them. And at the same time, focus on how safe AI can be used for public good.

    The speed of this progress demands this is not a one-off, or even an annual gathering.

    New breakthroughs are happening daily, and we need to convene more regularly.

    Moreover, it is essential that we bring governments together with the best academics and researchers to be able to evaluate the technologies.

    Tech companies must not mark their own homework, just as governments and citizens must have confidence that risks are properly mitigated.

    Indeed, a large part of this work should be about ensuring faith in the system, and it is only nation states that can provide the most significant national security concern reassurance that has been allayed.

    That is why I am so proud that the United Kingdom’s world-leading Frontier AI Taskforce has brought together pioneering experts like Yoshua Bengio and Paul Christiano, with the head of GCHQ and our National Security Advisers.

    It is the first body of its kind in the world that is developing the capacity to conduct the safe external red-teaming that will be critical to building confidence in frontier models.

    And our ambition is for the Taskforce to evolve to become a permanent institutional structure, with an international offer.

    Building this capacity in liberal, democratic countries is important.

    Many world-beating technologies were developed in nations where expression flows openly and ideas are exchanged freely.

    A culture of rules and transparency is essential to creativity and innovation, and it is just as essential to making AI safe.

    So that, ladies and gentlemen, is the task that confronts us.

    It is – in its speed, and its scale, and its potential – unlike anything we – or our predecessors – have known before.

    Exciting.

    Daunting.

    Inexorable.

    So now we must work – alongside its pioneers – to understand it, to govern it, to harness its potential, and to contain its risks.

    We will have to be pioneers too.

    We may not know where the risks lie, how we might contain them, or even the fora in which we must determine them.

    What we do know, however, is that the most powerful action will come when nations work together.

    The AI revolution will be a bracing test for the multilateral system, to show that it can work together on a question that will help to define the fate of humanity.

    Our future – humanity’s future – our entire planet’s future, depends on our ability to do so.

    That is our challenge, and this is our opportunity.

    To be – truly – the United Nations.

     

  • Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech at the United Nations Security Council

    Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech at the United Nations Security Council

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, in New York, the United States, on 20 September 2023.

    Thank you, President.

    I am proud to sit here today in solidarity with President Zelenskyy. He and the Ukrainian people have met Russia’s invasion of their country with bravery, and with courage. I pay tribute to their fortitude.

    Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression is not only a fight for freedom, it is also a fight for the principles upon which the United Nations itself is based, principles underpinned by our Charter which says that all States’ sovereignty is equal, that territorial integrity is inviolable, that disputes should be settled peacefully and that we must protect those things together.

    When Russia’s tanks rolled into Ukraine they trampled over every one of those principles. They have done so ever since. Every missile, every bomb, every false arrest, every piece of propaganda has been a flagrant assault, not only on freedom, but on our multilateral rules-based system.

    If we allow Russia to lay waste to what we have built here, the risks to world order, the risks to us all, are grave.

    For over a year and a half, Ukraine has been suffering the terrible consequences of Russia’s war of choice. We must never forget the human cost. 9,500 people killed. 17,000 people injured. Reports of 500,000 military casualties on both sides.

    Russia has callously targeted schools, hospitals, even playgrounds. Ukrainians have been tortured, they have been raped. Men, women, and thousands of children have been forcibly deported from their homes.

    And the devastation flows beyond Ukraine’s borders. Thanks to their destruction of thousands of tonnes of grain, the hungry and malnourished people of the developing world are Russia’s victims too. That is why the United Kingdom will contribute a further £3 million to the World Food Programme to continue President Zelenskyy’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative.

    Of course, the only end to this widespread suffering is through a just and lasting peace. Ukraine has demonstrated their commitment to peace time again and again including in Copenhagen and Jeddah this summer. But they have also shown on the battlefield this summer that they are capable of restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity that must be the foundations of any peace.

    Ukraine’s counter-offensive has put Russia under pressure. In total, Ukraine has regained 50 per cent of the territory seized since the war began and in Kharkiv and Kherson, the yellow and blue flag flies high once again. That flag flies throughout the rest of the world, reflecting the solidarity we feel to Ukraine. Yet we might wonder what difference does this support make when Russia seems so impervious to UN demands?

    When it seeks to fuel its aims with arms from sanctioned states such as Iran and the DPRK and when it conducts sham elections in Ukraine’s sovereign territory? The truth is this: Russia knows the power of collective action because it tries so hard to weaken and divide the international community.

    So, just as we need to confront our biggest challenges on global poverty, on climate change, on artificial intelligence collectively, we need effective multilateralism to achieve resolution. To seek justice for the many, many victims. To rebuild ruined cities and create new opportunities. To get grain exports flowing again. To help put Ukraine back on the path to prosperity. To secure peace.

    And that is what we shall do, together.

    Thank you, Mr President.