tuc news Minister backs global control of AI


Reports by Barrie Clement Images by Jess Hurd


THE UK is facing ‘huge risks’ to society and to national security from artificial intelligence (AI) if the ‘right guardrails’ are not in place, first secretary of state Louise Hague told congress. “AI has enormous


“


We have a duty to ensure that AI is for the benefit – not the detriment – of our society


Louise Hague First secretary of state


potential to improve lives, to transform our public services, make our businesses stronger and deliver new scientific breakthroughs. We must work to make the most of the opportunities that AI can bring,” she said. “But I know people are also worried about what it already means for their jobs… what it means for the world their kids are growing up in and of course their safety.” The UK should heed the warnings of those who are at the forefront of developing the technology, she said.


Haigh was making her


keynote speech after three Anthropic researchers warned that AI could wipe out humanity within the decade. “This is an issue that goes beyond our borders and we


partner, Donald Trump, had already dismissed the concerns as a ‘hoax’. She added: “AI will reshape our lives and the lives of our children. We have a duty to mitigate the risks and ensure


are ready to work with our international partners to make sure we get this right,” she said. Unfortunately, one potential international


that it’s for the benefit – not the detriment – of our society. It is these challenges and our collective response to them that will define the future our children inherit.”


Farage slated over class hypocrisy


TUC leader Paul Nowak attacked Reform leader Nigel Farage in the wake of a £72 million donation to the party from two crypto billionaires in two days. Nowak asked: “Who better to take on the establishment than a privately educated, ex-banker multi-millionaire? “Who better to rattle the


cages of Westminster complacency than the 30-year career politician leading a party of Tory has-beens? “And who better to clean up politics than the man who sips champagne and eats oysters while taking dodgy donations from foreign funders?” He told delegates: “So


let’s be clear: Reform do not, never have and never will represent the interests of working people.”


“He added: Let no one tell you there is any similarity – any similarity – between care workers chipping in a few quid a year through their union and a party bought and paid for by billionaires.


“So, we need a proper conversation about how we clean up our politics that doesn’t push workers to the margins but does stop the super rich corrupting our politics. “And here’s a starting point: don’t live in Britain? Don’t pay your taxes in Britain? Then don’t meddle in British politics.”


Self-employed lack rights


THE self-employed are still without basic rights in Britain despite new employment legislation, delegates observed. Proposing Equity’s successful resolution, the union’s president Lynda Rooke called on the TUC to campaign for stronger protection for genuinely self-employed workers. Rook gave an example: “Once a child is


born, self-employed mothers may qualify for maternity allowance, but it’s derisory and


06 | theJournalist


deducted from universal credit as a benefit – and self-employed fathers get nothing. “It happened to my husband; he had to return to work as a theatre director the day after each of our three children were born. That was 30 years ago, and nothing has changed.” Nearly half of NUJ members are estimated to be freelance, as are the overwhelming majority of Equity’s membership.


Congress acknowledged that AI has particular implications for creative jobs. A motion tabled by Equity, supported by the NUJ and passed by conference asserted that copyright law was inadequate in the face of wholesale theft of text, recordings and images by AI. For the NUJ, Natasha Hirst (pictured) warned the government that new rights to address AI-generated digital replicas are urgently needed. “There are too many gaps in legislation, which fails to address the challenges that impact on livelihoods and our safety at work.” This covered areas from traditional news publications and broadcasting, to photography and videography, PR and communications, magazines and digital media.


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