Bishop of Oxford warns of AI dangers in final Lords speech

The Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft bid a farewell to Parliament on Monday (July 27) as he prepares to retire this summer.

After serving as diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Oxford for 10 years, he used this time to warn that rapid, profit-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) risks undermining national stability, unless governments reassert control over technology.

Bishop Steven repeated the words of Prime Minister Andy Burnham to his peers that the UK “needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again”.

The Bishop of Oxford Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft (Image: Oxford Mail)

While acknowledging the many gains from technology, he warned of the dangers.

He said: “There are existential risks to mental health, our climate, cohesion, truth, relationships, community, patterns of work, the distribution of power—which affects every part of society—and the international order”. 

He argues these risks are being intensified by the pace at which AI is being developed and deployed,

He said: “The speed of change and the significant power unleashed make this revolution distinct from other technical developments in the past, because there is a risk that the speed of change will itself undermine the very benefits that change brings”.

The rush is being driven by huge commercial investment, he suggested, with insufficient attention to ethics, safeguards or long‑term consequences.

He said: “There is simply no time for public trust and confidence to grow, and we have heard of the growing public awareness of risk and the desire that something be done”, as jobs, institutions, and public debate are reshaped by systems few people fully understand.

Bishop Steven insisted that only Government can provide a “responsible, balancing slowing down”, which “needs to be clear, ethically shaped and in the interests of our whole society”.

Criticising the current position, he added: “The United Kingdom does not yet have that clear standard and statement of intent. We need it urgently.”

The Bishop of Oxford Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft (Image: Oxford Mail)

However, he believes this cannot be done alone without other nations drawing together a common approach.

He said: “The second source is the combined and collective power of nation states acting in concert.”

Just as a keel stabilises a boat in rough, stormy water, he argues the need for values is vital at this time.

He said: “As the world navigates the transition to the age of artificial intelligence, we will need more than ever before the values and ethics of our common tradition, rooted in centuries of Christian faith and practice.

“AI can be a tool for the common good and a source of great benefit, but only if Governments remain sovereign.”