Britain confirms AI will not be given access to nukes

The UK Government has reaffirmed its commitment to human political control over its nuclear weapons, following concerns raised about the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in command, control, and communication systems.

In response to a Parliamentary Question from Lord West of Spithead, Lord Coaker, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, confirmed that AI research is ongoing but assured that only the Prime Minister has the authority to authorise the use of the UK’s nuclear arsenal.

“The UK’s nuclear weapons are operationally independent, and only the Prime Minister can authorise their use,” Lord Coaker stated.

“It is a long-standing policy that we do not discuss detailed nuclear command and control matters and so will not be able to provide any additional detail.”

Lord West had asked the government to clarify what work is being undertaken regarding the integration of AI in nuclear systems and whether any research has been commissioned to identify and manage high-risk AI applications.

While the Ministry of Defence did not disclose specific projects, Lord Coaker confirmed that research is underway to assess and mitigate risks associated with AI in sensitive applications.

“Research to identify, understand, and mitigate against risks of AI in sensitive applications is underway,” he said. “We will ensure that, regardless of any use of AI in our strategic systems, human political control of our nuclear weapons is maintained at all times.”

While AI-enhanced decision support tools are increasingly being explored, the UK maintains that AI will not replace human authority when it comes to nuclear decision-making.

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