ALCS welcomes government's 'promise' of AI laws but bill left out of King's Speech

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) has welcomed the government’s "promise of much-needed legislation" around artificial intelligence (AI), following the King’s Speech (17th July 2024). 

The speech outlined the government’s aim to “seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models”. 

ALCS c.e.o. Barbara Hayes said: "Many of our members are understandably concerned about the misuse of generative AI and what it means for their work and livelihoods. So, we are pleased to see the new government announce its intention to place requirements on those developing such models."

But a bill that would regulate new generative AI technologies was missing from the announcement, which included 40 other bills. It was expected in yesterday’s speech, and it largely came as a surprise that it was not among the raft of bills set out by the new government.  

ALCS urged the government to work with creators and trade bodies in the interim to ensure that these technologies are developed fairly.

"As we wait for further details as to what this will look like, we urge the government to ensure this legislation adheres to the principles we have laid out, which include authors’ rights to remuneration, transparency and control,” Hayes added.

The Publishers Association told The Bookseller however, that they had hoped the AI bill would be included in the King’s Speech on Wednesday, but that they welcomed other legislation mentioned.

Dan Conway, c.e.o. of the Publishers Association, said: “It’s good to see the new Labour government’s top priorities for this term outlined in Parliament. Much of what has been announced is as expected following the Labour manifesto and our interactions with the party.

“One exception to this is the absence of the anticipated AI Bill. However, the government has committed to requirements on the companies developing the most powerful AI models. We will be following this issue closely and will continue to make the publishing industry’s demands for transparency, attribution and remuneration in generative AI creation.

“We welcome the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, which will be introduced to raise standards in education and promote children’s wellbeing. We will be advocating that children’s access to books is taken into consideration as part of this. It’s also positive to see the emphasis on skills and the reform of the apprenticeship levy in the Skills England Bill.”