UK government rejects kill switch proposal for dangerous AI

The UK government has rejected proposals to create a so-called kill switch that could shut down dangerous artificial intelligence systems, saying the country cannot simply turn AI off.

The Cabinet Office, which leads the government work on AI safety, issued guidance stating that a blanket shutdown mechanism would be technically unworkable and economically damaging, given how deeply AI has become integrated into critical national infrastructure, healthcare, and financial systems.

Ministers argued that targeted safety measures, stronger regulatory oversight, and international cooperation were more appropriate responses to AI risks than a single off-switch. The announcement came as Senator Bernie Sanders in the United States separately called for legislation to ban AI superintelligence development.

AI safety campaigners criticised the decision, warning that without the option of emergency shutdown capabilities, the government lacked a meaningful last resort if a powerful AI system acted against human interests.