The research, undertaken by AI data insights specialists Aiimi, examined the frequency and sentiment of mentions of “AI” or “artificial intelligence” by both Conservative and Labour MPs in Parliament. It also compared the social media activity on X (formerly Twitter) of key political figures, including the former Prime Minister and the former Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), against their Labour Party counterparts, Sir Keir Starmer and Peter Kyle.

Aiimi's analysis covered the period from 30th November 2022, when ChatGPT was released, to 30th May 2024, just before Parliament was dissolved ahead of the General Election.

Key Findings

Over the 18-month timeframe, there were 1,022 mentions of “AI” or “artificial intelligence” during Parliamentary debates. As expected from a governing party, Conservative MPs mentioned AI more frequently, accounting for 65% of the total mentions, while Labour MPs contributed 18%.

The Aiimi Insight Engine further analysed the sentiment of these mentions. Conservative MPs had a more optimistic outlook on AI, with 87% of their mentions classified as positive or neutral and only 13% as negative. In contrast, Labour MPs displayed a more balanced perspective: 61% of their AI mentions were positive or neutral, whereas 39% were negative.

On social media, a similar trend was observed. The former Prime Minister and the former DSIT Secretary frequently discussed AI, often highlighting its potential benefits. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer and Peter Kyle’s mentions of AI on X tended to focus on the need for regulation and ethical considerations.

Implications for AI Policy

The findings suggest that the new Labour government may pursue a more cautious approach to AI policy compared to their Conservative predecessors. The higher proportion of negative sentiment in Labour’s AI mentions indicates a focus on addressing potential risks and ethical concerns associated with AI technology.

This shift could lead to more stringent regulations and oversight of AI development and deployment in the UK, aiming to balance innovation with responsibility. As the new government takes shape, stakeholders in the AI industry should prepare for potential changes in policy direction that prioritise caution and ethical considerations.

Steve Salvin, Founder and CEO at Aiimi, comments that: “The Conservatives were very bullish on AI and keen to advance the sector quickly. We may find that the new Government strikes a slightly more cautious tone and diverts more focus to safety and regulation, as well as thinking about longer-term plans around skills.”

Social media highlights differing focuses

Aiimi also found that promotion of AI social media varied significantly between the party leaders and relevant ministers. An analysis of tweets shared on X between 30th November 2022 and 28th June 2024 found that:

• The former DSIT Secretary Michelle Donelan prioritised speaking about “AI” or “artificial intelligence” online the most: 198 times in total
• Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned AI a total of 71 times
• The new DSIT Secretary, Peter Kyle, mentioned AI five times
• Labour Leader and new Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned AI just twice

Salvin, adds: “With Starmer in Number 10 and Peter Kyle MP now heading up DSIT, we may expect a slightly more pragmatic and measured approach to AI. However, even if this is the case, expect the topic to fly up the ranks of priorities now that Labour are in office. AI’s potential to help UK PLC become more productive and competitive at home and in global markets is too great to overlook."