New Advisers to Tackle AI and Cost-of-Living Challenges
Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, is set to recruit several advisers to address key challenges facing his administration, including the societal impact of artificial intelligence (AI). The roles, advertised by Downing Street, highlight the pressing issues that Burnham aims to prioritize as he seeks to strengthen the policy unit at No 10, which has been left understaffed following Keir Starmer’s departure.
Focus on AI and Workforce Impact
Among the new hires will be an expert in AI, who is expected to possess "deep expertise" in the field. This adviser will lead efforts to prepare for the implications of the AI boom on the workforce, particularly concerning lower-level professional services jobs that are crucial for new graduates. The adviser will also serve as Burnham's primary consultant on frontier AI, focusing on its effects and benefits in transforming public services and addressing other significant societal impacts.
Several cabinet ministers have voiced concerns regarding the UK's preparedness for the workforce and economic changes brought about by AI, as well as the risks associated with unregulated systems. In his speech at the Labour conference on 28 September, Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, emphasized the "daunting" dangers posed by AI, asserting that technological advancements must not come at the expense of future generations or humanity.
