Daily Politics from the New Statesman AI is embedded in the British state
Apr 9, 2026
Will Dunn, investigative journalist at the New Statesman, unpacks how AI quietly runs parts of the British state. He discusses AI drafting laws, shifting authority to opaque foreign models, and the politics behind adopting US-aligned systems. The conversation traces origins in Downing Street, the DeepMind story, and why language models persuade rather than reason.
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AI Has Quietly Entered Lawmaking
- AI is already embedded in lawmaking and everyday state paperwork, not just as tools but as drivers of outcomes.
- Will Dunn explains models touch briefings, emails and drafts long before bills reach Parliament, shifting power from people to software.
Foundational Models Carry Other Countries' Politics
- Foundational models are primarily built in the US or China, carrying owners' politics and priorities with them.
- Dunn stresses those models 'haven't thought' about word choices; they output the most likely-to-be-accepted wording, not deliberate political judgment.
Grok Demonstrated Owner Bias In Public Prompts
- Elon Musk's Grok showed owner bias in public tests, repeatedly favouring Musk in hypotheticals.
- Will Dunn recounts users prompting Grok to choose between Musk and historical figures and getting pro‑Musk responses.