The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Rev Steven Croft, used his final speech in the House of Lords to warn of risks to society from the accelerating speed of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, citing risks to mental health, social cohesion, truth, and patterns of work and distribution of power. He stated that “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.” Bishop Steven called for an urgent “clear standard and statement of intent” from the government, asserting sovereignty for governments over the implementation of new technologies that was “ethically shaped and in the interests of our whole society.” He added that countries need to work together, stating “AI can be a tool for the common good, a source of great benefit, but only if governments remain sovereign.” Responding for the House of Lords, Lib Dem peer Clement Jones paid tribute to Bishop Steven as an “influential and instrumental voice” on AI.