The Bunker – News without the nonsense Labour and A.I. – Does Starmer know what he’s on about?
Jul 17, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Professor Kate Devlin, Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute, unpacks the intricate landscape of AI. She explores whether Starmer's faith in AI can deliver solutions or if it's overhyped. Topics include AI's success in healthcare, misconceptions about job displacement, and the risks of relying on AI for emotional support. Devlin warns against misplacing trust in machines, advocating for a balanced perspective on technology's role in society.
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UK AI Strategy and Risks
- Previous UK government's AI safety summit used diplomacy effectively to engage nations including China.
- The current government risks undermining UK's creative sector by allowing big tech use of UK copyright without proper safeguards.
Healthcare AI Potential
- Healthcare offers promising AI applications beyond diagnostics, including productivity and logistical streamlining.
- Not all AI involves chatbots or generative models; broader AI tools can improve large organizations like the NHS.
Technological Determinism of AI
- The hype forces acceptance of AI as inevitable, restricting public choice and masking finite resource constraints.
- AI's future may not be as inevitable given limits on data, energy, and finances.