The power of AI is worrying senior Labour figures

Senior figures in the UK Labour government are concerned about the power of artificial intelligence, according to a Guardian report published on 17 October 2026. The article states that Westminster appears to be waking up to warnings over AI safety. It reports that the concerns relate to the use of AI by extremist groups and bad actors. The headline states that the power of AI is worrying senior Labour figures.

The report does not name the Labour figures involved, does not identify any specific extremist group or individual, and does not describe particular incidents in which AI was used. It contains no figures — no polling, no counts of cases, no dates for any proposed action. Nor does it set out any legislation, regulator or funding measure under consideration. The article characterises the shift as Westminster "waking up" to such warnings, and its account rests on that general statement rather than on any announced policy.

The piece presents the development as a change in the level of attention paid in Westminster rather than as a policy announcement. In that framing, the shift is one of concern among senior government figures about AI safety and about misuse by extremist groups and bad actors. No further detail on what, if anything, ministers intend to do is provided.