Even as Silicon Valley races to build more powerful artificial intelligence models, public opinion on the other side of the Atlantic remains decidedly skeptical of the influence of tech CEOs when it comes to regulating the sector, with the vast majority of Britons worried about the safety of new AI systems. The concerns, highlighted in a new poll shared exclusively with TIME, come as world leaders and tech bosses--from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, France's Emmanuel Macron and India's Narendra Modi to OpenAI chief Sam Altman and Google's Sundar Pichai--prepare to gather in Paris next week to discuss the rapid pace of developments in AI. The new poll shows that 87% of Brits would back a law requiring AI developers to prove their systems are safe before release, with 60% in favor of outlawing the development of "smarter-than-human" AI models. Just 9%, meanwhile, said they trust tech CEOs to act in the public interest when discussing AI regulation. The survey was conducted by the British pollster YouGov on behalf of Control AI, a non-profit focused on AI risks.

Fears the Pentagon has been'building killer robots in the basement' may have led to stricter AI rules that mandated all systems must be approved before deployment. The Department of Defense (DoD) recently updated its AI rules among'a lot of confusion about' how it plans to use self-decision-making machines on the battlefield, according to the deputy assistant defense secretary. Michael Horowitz explained at an event this month that the'directive does not prohibit the development of any systems,' but will'make clear what is and isn't allowed' and uphold a'commitment to responsible behavior,' as it develops lethal autonomous systems. While the Pentagon believes the changes should ease the public's minds, some have said they are not'convinced' by the efforts. Fears the Pentagon has been'building killer robots in the basement' may have led to stricter AI rules that mandated all systems must be approved before deployment. News of the update to the Pentagon's 2012 'Autonomy in Weapon Systems,' has sparked a debate online with many people saying'If the Pentagon says they're not doing it, they're doing it.'