The Conservative peer, Lord Holmes of Richmond, has reintroduced the <span class="news-text_italic-underline">Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Private Members’ Bill</span> (the “<span class="news-text_medium">Bill</span>”) to the House of Lords. This Bill was initially introduced in November 2023 but did not progress after Parliament was dissolved for the 2024 general election. Despite this setback, the Bill has now been reintroduced in the current parliamentary session.
Private Members' Bills, such as this one, are proposed by non-governmental members of the House of Commons and Lords. While these bills rarely become law, they serve to influence political discourse and draw attention to specific issues.
The scope of the Bill remains the same as its original version. If passed, it would establish a central ‘AI Authority’ tasked with overseeing AI regulation in the UK. The primary objective would be to ensure AI is used in a human-centric, trustworthy and responsible manner. This regulatory approach is designed to balance innovation with safeguards for consumers and citizens.
Lord Holmes has also published an accompanying AI Regulation report, which highlights the urgent need for a regulatory framework that places humanity at the heart of AI development. The report identifies eight circumstances where Lord Holmes believes regulatory intervention is necessary to address AI-related risks. The Bill seeks to address these concerns through specific provisions.
