The King spoke not a word on AI – then the end of term turned
Dimas Abimanyu
August 4, 2026
There was pomp and pageant at state opening of Parliament some 12 weeks ago. Nothing unusual in that, nor in the lack of any mention of artificial intelligence (AI).
In 2024, an earlier King’s Speech managed a single line: “My ministers will seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models.”
It’s not clear how hard said ministers “sought” to bring such legislation into being. Time tells us that sentence was reduced well below a single word when it came to the statute book.
Still, 2026 – new session, new speech, new possibilities? For sure, not even a sentence this time, rather a rare reference to a broader regulation bill.
It was curious at least, as governments can’t stop talking of the immense possibilities and potential harms of the technology.
Then prime minister Keir Starmer would seem to agree, once describing AI as “the greatest opportunity of our generation.” Not dissimilarly, his predecessor Rishi Sunak, on opening the 2023 AI Safety Summit, said: “I truly believe there is nothing in our foreseeable future that will be more transformative for our economies, our societies and all our lives … than the development of technologies like artificial intelligence.”
No regulation
So, AI, very important from previous prime minister and, yes, from previous, previous prime minister. And yet, both of them chose the path of no regulation, no cross-sector legislation – rather, a so called “sector” approach. For completeness, it should also be noted that “sector” sometimes morphs to “domain’” – and I’m not sure which is bigger or more significant.
It is for this reason, and to try and get some AI legislation into statute that, for the past 12 weeks I have been looking for opportunities to bring forward amendments to various bills as they cross our parliamentary path.
Just when you thought AI legislation was set for a summer in the long grass, along came another prime minister Chris Holmes
For social housing – to look at better help for vulnerable tenants through effective AI integration, getting ahead of issues before they become acute.
In financial services – too many to mention but significantly, an AI responsible officer in every firm where AI is about.
And in commercial payments – to assist the small business commissioner with her massive data challenge and AI imperative as a consequence of the bill.
Just a few examples – more than illustrative I hope – to the point that, if the government doesn’t want the more clear, consistent and coherent approach of a cross-sector AI bill, then, I for one will follow its entreaty to go bill by bill, sector by sector. And the response? Well, in reality it’s not cross-sector and it’s not sector by sector. In short, there’s been no specific AI legislation or regulation at all.
AI and cyber security
The situation is set to get much worse after the parliamentary summer break with the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which is also silent on AI. “Unfortunate” would very much understate it.
AI is already hyperactive across this space – cracking code, serving up scams and associated fakery. It is positive to have a bill, for the first time, with cyber in its title. A good title, but the bill requires significant bolstering and AI threading if it is to be fit for the future and worthy of its name. It needs significant amending if we are to empower us all and support our cyber professionals who do so much, obviously and often in the shadows, always to keep us safe.
And yet – whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a second. Just when you thought AI legislation was set for a summer in the long grass, along came another prime minister.
In the space of just two weeks there have been flurried announcements and, from an AI perspective, plenty of stuff going on.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has been disbanded, its responsibilities spread around. The renamed Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) being probably the most expanded, not least with the arrival of the Government Digital Service – a problematic decision going forward, for sure.
We have another task force and an AI minister called up to attend Cabinet. This is not inconsequential, but it also causes an urgent need for extreme coordination, most of which was taken care of previously through effective oversight, largely possible through proximity within DSIT. Now, gone.
Despite all these difficulties and fragmentation, I can’t help feeling that in this air of AI “promotion,” perhaps specific legislation might get a shot. I don’t quite yet feel the winds of change whistling through Whitehall, but a wisp perhaps.
The latest prime minister’s general approach and philosophy may tend more towards legislation than not, perhaps that is my hope or merely the heatwave. I just sense something and, ultimately, as any prophet has to say to any sceptic, nothing really more than this – time will tell.
