At the TUC congress in Brighton, UK Deputy Prime Minister Ms Haigh emphasized the significant potential benefits and risks associated with AI development. She warned about the “huge risk” to national security and society if proper safety measures are not implemented, contrasting this stance with former US President Donald Trump’s dismissive attitude towards AI risks. Haigh advocated for international collaboration and the inclusion of trade unions in shaping AI policies to protect workers’ interests.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Tuesday at the TUC conference in Brighton, UK Labour's first secretary Louise Haigh warned that the government must heed warnings from AI experts regarding potential threats. She emphasized the need for international cooperation to ensure public safety and national security while acknowledging AI's benefits, such as transforming public services and boosting business growth. Researchers from Anthropic, among others like OpenAI and Google DeepMind, have raised concerns about the risks posed by rapid AI development, including a 10% chance of super-intelligent AI wiping out humanity within this decade. Haigh’s stance contrasts with US President Donald Trump's dismissal of AI threats as a "hoax," highlighting differing global approaches to regulating emerging technology.
Written for “UK Heeds AI Warnings” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.45 for article 12083 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-15
Ms Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, acknowledged AI has the potential to transform public services, increase business growth and scientific progress.
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AI → acknowledge → growth
But she said people were rightly worried about the negative impacts of the technology’s rapid progress and the Government had a “solemn duty” to act.
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Government → say → duty
The UK Government’s tone is in marked contrast to US President Donald Trump, who has dismissed warnings about the risks to humanity posed by AI as a “hoax”, even when they have come from industry insiders.
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they → dismiss → insiders
Speaking at the TUC congress in Brighton, Ms Haigh said AI has “immense potential to improve lives” but “I know people are worried, rightly, about what it already means for their jobs, what it means for the world their kids are growing up in and, of course, for their safety”.
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kids → speak → safety
“We must heed the warnings of those who are at the forefront of developing this technology,” she said.
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she → heed → technology
“There are clearly huge risks to our national security and society if the right guardrails are not put in place.”
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guardrails → be → place
She said the UK was ready to work internationally to address concerns about the technology.
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UK → say → technology
“AI will reshape our lives and the lives of our children, and we have a solemn duty to mitigate the risks and ensure it is for the benefit, not the detriment, of our society.”
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it → reshape → society
Later, Ms Haigh was asked by a TUC delegate whether unions should have a role in how AI is implemented to protect workers.
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AI → ask → workers
The senior minister replied: “As we go forward in all the reform around AI, working people need to be at the heart of the AI debate, and we’re committed again to working with trade unions and employers on this.
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we → reply → this
“Where AI makes work more productive, then the benefits should be felt by workers, not just shareholders or tech bros.”
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benefits → make → workers
Read More
Ms Haigh addressed trade unionists after Prime Minister Andy Burnham pulled out following the death of his father.
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Burnham → read → father
Responding to Ms Haigh’s speech, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “We cannot have an unmanaged technological transition that pushes workers to the margins.
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that → respond → margins
“It’s time to give workers more control over this technology and confront the short-termist shareholders and out of control companies driving dangerous AI.”
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It → ’ → AI
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he understood public concerns about AI but insisted people should have confidence in the UK’s safeguards.
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people → say → safeguards
“We should neither be complacent nor should we be hyperbolic about this,” he told BBC Breakfast.
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he → tell → Breakfast
The Commons Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee has called on UK safety watchdog the AI Security Institute to give evidence in Parliament on October 13.
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Committee → call → October
Committee chairman Liam Byrne said: “Over the last week, public concern about the risk of unfettered, inadequately governed artificial intelligence development has multiplied.”
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concern → say → development
In the US, Mr Trump has dismissed AI fears as a “hoax” despite leading players in the industry ringing the alarm bell about the dangers from the rapid growth in the capability of the technology.
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players → dismiss → technology
He is worried that any slowdown in US progress will hand an advantage to Chinese firms and pushed back against calls by tech leaders such as Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SpaceXAI’s Elon Musk to have greater government oversight of AI.
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slowdown → worry → AI
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: “The only control or “guardrails” that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
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U.S.A. → write → spades
The Aporia
