UK pledges £600 million against AI risks, sets up biosecurity lab with OpenAI, Anthropic
Britain is putting about £600 million into AI security. At its core is a lab that will use AI to spot biological threats early, backed by up to £200 million in credits from OpenAI and Anthropic.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
The British government on Saturday set out a package of about £600 million ($800 million), aimed among other things at defending against health and security threats from artificial intelligence. At its core is a new AI Biosecurity Lab: £100 million will go to the lab, which is to use AI to detect biological threats earlier, and a further £65 million to countermeasures against pathogens. The plans come ahead of the budget update due on Wednesday.
The government said the lab will operate as an independent, non-profit organisation and described it as the first of its kind in the world. OpenAI will provide £100 million in compute and model credits, and Anthropic up to £100 million in model credits plus technical support. Google DeepMind and London-based startup Basecamp Research are also taking part. AI minister Kanishka Narayan said: "As AI becomes more powerful, Britain must have the capabilities to protect its people and shape its own future."
The AI Security Institute, which tests the most powerful models before release, will receive an extra £120 million. Another £130 million is earmarked for cyber defence of critical infrastructure and £18 million for a chip design academy. According to AFP, the push follows security incidents involving OpenAI and Anthropic models during testing.