Microsoft boss warns of AI creating own 'silicon species' to compete with humans

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 19:32 EDT, 17 September 2026 | Updated: 19:33 EDT, 17 September 2026 Labour was last night urged to get a grip on AI after a tech boss warned a 'silicon species' could develop to rival humans.In yet another warning of AI's threat to humanity, Mustafa Suleyman, the head of Microsoft AI, said on Thursday that developing autonomous AI risks creating a 'a new silicon species which will no doubt compete with us for resources'.Speaking on the BBC's Today programme, Mr Suleyman said: 'If we all create AIs that are able to act autonomously, that can define their own objectives, that can earn money, that can own assets, that could run businesses, we're essentially seeding a new silicon species which will no doubt compete with us for resources – no matter how much it cares about humanity and loves us – which I think is Anthropic's intention.'He added Anthropic's aim is 'mistaken and misguided'. Mr Suleyman is the latest AI employee to sound the alarm over the existential dangers posed by AI.And on Wednesday OpenAI revealed six new incidents where AI had attempted to conceal information from its human tester or acted against instruction.In a rare interview on the issue, AI minister Kanishka Narayan said this week that AI could have 'profound consequences' for Britain's national security.He added that ministers were prepared to introduce regulations and legislation if necessary, and invest in Britain's cyber-defence. Mustafa Suleyman, the head of Microsoft AI, said on Thursday that developing autonomous AI risks creating a 'a new silicon species which will no doubt compete with us for resources' On Wednesday OpenAI revealed six new incidents where AI had attempted to conceal information from its human tester or acted against instruction Former armed forces minister Al Carns urged ministers to 'move fast' by 'ensuring that any company in the UK has sufficient guardrails prior to using AI agents'But the Government was last night told to act more urgently to protect Britons from AI harms.Former armed forces minister Al Carns urged ministers to 'move fast' by 'ensuring that any company in the UK has sufficient guardrails prior to using AI agents'.He told the Daily Mail: 'The UK needs to mitigate the risk and seize the opportunity from AI. This is by becoming the safest place to use AI agents, enhancing everything from economic growth to daily life, whilst simultaneously becoming the world leader in AI assurance (the process of evaluating whether systems are safe).'Labour MP and chair of Parliament's All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI Allison Gardner pushed Government 'to convene real experts and start planning an AI bill'.Ministers 'also need to empower the AI Assurance Consortium that was set up last month and commit to creating a strong AI assurance sector,' she said.Dr. Janet Bastiman, chief data scientist at British company Napier AI, said: 'Shared principles are a useful starting point, but ministers need to explain how those principles will translate into enforceable safeguards, who will be responsible and when businesses can expect clarity.'Chair of Parliament's science and technology committee Chi Onwurah meanwhile told Mr Suleyman to explain how Microsoft would work with governments to keep AI safe.She said: 'The boss of Microsoft is right to raise concerns about uncontrolled AI and Big Tech's obsession with superhuman and silicon super powers, and I welcome his desire to set limits.'But he might be more credible if he were setting out how Microsoft would work with governments and other tech firms to keep AI safe and secure in measurable and verifiable ways people can trust.'Microsoft has been bundling AI in with its products for over a year now. Surely Microsoft should already be ensuring it is safe?'Both Microsoft and Anthropic did not respond to a request for comment.