Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney met for the first time as leaders on Wednesday. The meeting took place in Liverpool.
The two discussed artificial intelligence risks and defence cooperation. Afterward, they watched a football match together at Everton's stadium.
The UK Prime Minister's Office released a statement after the meeting. It said governments and tech companies must work together to keep people safe online.
Both sides agreed that AI risks need attention alongside the technology's benefits. The statement did not name specific policy actions.
The meeting followed comments from Burnham's spokesperson days earlier. The spokesperson welcomed growing conversation among AI companies about the risks of their own systems.
The spokesperson said policy choices should be based on evidence, not speculation. They also said current rules may fall short as AI systems keep advancing.
How the UK and Canada Regulate AI
Neither country currently has a standalone law for artificial intelligence. Each has taken a different path.
The UK has followed a "pro-innovation" approach since March 2023. Existing regulators oversee AI within their own sectors, rather than one central law covering everything.
Canada attempted broader legislation through the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. That bill lapsed when parliament was prorogued in January 2025.
The prorogation cancelled all pending legislation at the time. The AI bill has not been brought back since.
Canada currently relies on privacy law and a voluntary industry code to guide AI use. There is no dedicated AI statute in place.
Defence Talks and Wider Cooperation
The leaders also discussed defence matters during their meeting. Talks centered on two competing plans for an allied military financing bank.
One plan comes from Britain and the other from Canada. The two sides are working to reconcile the different approaches.
Canada has applied to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. It has also joined the Global Combat Air Programme as an observer.
The meeting comes as Canada builds closer ties with Europe more broadly. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently proposed that Canada become the EU's first "associate member."
That proposal follows ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States. Ottawa has been seeking partnerships beyond its usual trade relationships in recent months.
Wednesday's meeting marked the first formal bilateral discussion between Burnham and Carney since both took office. No further meetings have been announced yet.
