Andy Burnham used his first UN General Assembly speech to call for international cooperation on artificial intelligence, arguing that governments must regulate its development. He said AI could bring major benefits, including economic growth and medical advances, but warned that unchecked progress could disrupt work and increase risks. His position contrasts with Donald Trump’s opposition to regulation.

The speech was delivered to a sparsely attended chamber, although the article notes that evening UN sessions can often attract smaller audiences. Burnham cited warnings from technology leaders, including Anthropic’s claim of a 10 per cent chance that AI could kill all humans within a decade, while Trump dismissed such concerns as a hoax. The limited attendance was also compared with larger crowds for Trump and Emmanuel Macron, though previous British leaders have experienced similar turnouts.