Sir Tony Blair has urged the West not to slow down the pace of AI after Silicon Valley chiefs warned about the existential threat posed by the technology.

The former prime minister, a keen advocate of AI, said pausing development risked “profound and compounding disadvantages” for society which were just as serious as the menace posed by highly intelligent bots.

A report for the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), the former Labour leader’s think tank, published on Monday, said calls to slow down AI were part of a brewing “techlash” in the US and UK which should be resisted.

“Intensifying concerns about AI safety must not stop governments keeping pace with this revolution,” said the report.

Read more: A Cult voicebox speaks – Tony Blair: Don’t slow down on AI