Andy Burnham urged world leaders to co-operate on global rules for artificial intelligence, warning that its rapid development could threaten humanity if left largely to private companies. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, he said elected governments needed to guide the technology, while ensuring it improved economies, supported workers and helped address challenges such as disease.

Burnham proposed common international principles covering AI safety, transparency and access, comparing the need for co-operation with the response to the global financial crisis. He also called for stronger UK safeguards after its AI Security Institute was denied early access to an Anthropic system, and backed a new centre to counter hostile-state disinformation. His position conflicts with Donald Trump, who has opposed regulation and dismissed existential-risk warnings, while Anthropic’s alignment chief has estimated a 10 per cent chance that AI could kill all humans within a decade.