Liz Kendall insisted Labor would make artificial intelligence “work for workers” and not abandon those whose jobs have been displaced by rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
Amid growing public anxiety about the impact of AI on jobs, particularly young people, the technology secretary insisted the government could decide how to implement it.
“We must ensure that AI enhances jobs. “We support people to move on, and we’re not like the Conservatives, who just leave people to fend for themselves,” she said.
It is rumored that the former leadership candidate could be kicked out of cabinet if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election, ousting Keir Starmer and shifting Labor to the left.
But ahead of London Tech Week, which brings local businesses, US tech companies and policymakers to the capital from June 8, he was keen to set out a clear Labor approach to the challenge of AI adoption.
Speaking from his Whitehall office, Mr Kendall said:
“It’s up to all of us to choose, act and deliver this in a way that’s advantageous for Britain. And as a Labor government, it’s up to us to ensure that this policy works for workers and people in the most deprived areas, not just the unaccountable powerful few.”
Mr Kendall co-ordinated the government’s £187m Tech First AI training scheme, announced last year, and said 40% of the one million children it will target will attend disadvantaged schools.
She highlighted the launch of two schemes in the north-east and north-west of England to provide summer skills camps for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), or who are at risk.
These schemes are implemented in partnership with businesses and aim to open up apprenticeship opportunities. Initially, it will be very small with 60 locations in the northwest and 20 locations in the northeast, but plans are to expand.
“We’re going to launch a national program to prevent young people at risk of becoming NEET and make sure they actually have access to free summer skills programmes. We hope this will lead to more people joining apprenticeships,” Mr Kendall said.
The North East scheme, which forms part of the government’s plan for the region’s AI growth zone, is funded by Labour’s Youth Guarantee, which pledges support to young people who have been unemployed for 18 months or more.
Kendall said: “We must ensure that everyone has the chance to seize opportunities from AI. And that means ensuring that the people and places that most need a decent chance at life get the opportunities and choices they deserve.”
Former Labor Secretary Alan Milburn last week published an interim report into the growing social challenges of young NEETs, with the number of NEETs exceeding one million for the first time in a decade.
Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, warned that AI will be a “tsunami on the labor market” and that young people will be the most severely affected.
But Kendall downplayed concerns about mass job losses, saying: “Jobs will be created. Jobs will change. And some jobs will be lost. That’s what happens with the introduction of any general-purpose technology.”
The Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, which monitors Mr Kendall’s department’s work, this week called on the government to cancel a major contract with US tech company Palantir to digitize the NHS.
Mr Kendall said he understood the concerns but the decision on whether to trigger a “break clause” in the contract would be made by the new health secretary, James Murray.
“Digitizing the NHS is hugely important. Improving outcomes for patients and making life easier for doctors and nurses is hugely important. But as I said, we also know that we want to see more happening to support AI companies in the UK,” she added.
Kendall declined to be addressed about another key issue on her tray – the government’s consultation on banning social media for under-16s.
An announcement is expected soon and she has already revealed that the overwhelming response from parents has been a call for action.
He stressed that ministers had looked at issues far wider than just social media, such as how children interact with chatbots.
Kendall said: “We’re not just looking at social media for under-16s, yes or no. We’re looking at issues like ‘stranger pairing’ in games and live streaming. We’re looking at AI chatbots. We’re looking at better means of age verification. So we’re looking at the whole issue of children’s lives online.”
Stranger pairing allows your child to interact directly with someone they don’t know through a video game.
Mr Kendall said the government’s willingness to consider tougher restrictions was part of a broader determination not to be passive towards big tech.
“A lot of this discussion is as if it’s being used against us, and we say yes or no,” she said. “But the truth is, the choice is not between having AI or trying to stop AI, or having AI or not having AI. The choice is between shaping AI to work for us or leaving it at its mercy and whims.”
