Britain’s government has set out around £600 million ($800 million) in funding focused largely on defending against health and security risks posed by artificial intelligence.
The largest share will go to a new biosecurity initiative, including £100 million for an AI Biosecurity Lab that will use AI to detect biological threats and £65 million to develop countermeasures against pathogens. OpenAI and Anthropic will contribute up to £200 million in model credits, while Google DeepMind and London-based AI life sciences startup Basecamp Research will provide further support.
AI minister Kanishka Narayan said the government wants the lab to become a major global institution that brings together leading scientific expertise to protect people from emerging biological threats.
The existing AI Security Institute will receive an extra £120 million, and £130 million will fund new cyber defence projects for critical infrastructure, the National Cyber Shield and the National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability Centre. The National Cyber Security Centre will also expand in Manchester.
Further allocations include £60 million for a fund backing British companies using AI in robotics, autonomous systems and manufacturing, £60 million for AI research and procurement, £23 million for research on AI’s economic impact, £18 million for a chip design academy, a £15 million prize for AI solutions to public policy challenges, initially in healthcare, and £30 million for regional mayors to support local AI work.
