Oliver Dowden has warned of the threat artificial intelligence could pose to elections as Rishi Sunak prepares to deliver a major speech on the safety and potential benefits of the technology. 

The Deputy Prime Minister was asked this morning if he worried about the UK’s elections being vulnerable to AI. 

He told Times Radio: “Yes I do and we have seen in successive elections technology imposing an effect on our elections.”

He added: “I also take it seriously in respect of our elections. The thing about AI is actually twofold. One, it can proliferate the range of actors that can participate in this space, so more people can create those kind of deep fakes, and as you say, it can also make them more convincing.”

Mr Dowden said the Government was working to ensure the UK is prepared for the potential impact of AI but he also stressed he believed it can be an “exciting, game changing opportunity”. 

Mr Sunak will deliver a speech on AI this morning as he sets the stage for the UK to host an AI safety summit at Bletchley Park next week. 

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