The UK government has confirmed it will create a national AI Biosecurity Lab to strengthen defences against biological threats as part of a £600 million investment package. The initiative, described as a world-first high-security robotics project, will be formally announced during Wednesday's Budget.
Investment Package Details
Chancellor John Healey will pledge millions across several initiatives aimed at improving the UK's ability to respond to emerging cyber and AI-enabled dangers. The plans include £10 million per year to lead the UK's work in understanding how AI will reshape jobs and industry.
The government hailed the move as a "major package of investment to unlock the opportunities of AI in every postcode, scale up home grown AI firms, and keep the country safe from hostile threats." Funding will be supported by up to £200 million in AI model credits from OpenAI and Anthropic, plus partnerships with Google DeepMind and London-based AI life sciences firm Basecamp Research.
Security and Cyber Measures
An additional £120 million will be committed to the UK's AI Security Institute. A new £70 million National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability Centre will deploy AI tools to identify cyber vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure and the economy.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said: "Our new AI Biosecurity Lab will be a major new global institution, bringing together world-leading scientific expertise to protect people from emerging biological threats and ensure Britain leads the world in AI safety and security."
Government Statements
Mr Healey confirmed: "AI will transform daily life: every firm, community, hospital, school, and every aspect of our economy can benefit. I understand and share the concerns of working people, so I am setting out a distinctively British approach to AI."
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: "I’m proud the UK has repeatedly been at the forefront of global efforts to use AI for the benefit of humankind. Today’s investment will help the UK seize the opportunities AI presents to strengthen our national security, while staying one step ahead of those who seek to use AI to do us harm."
The announcement follows concerns from AI industry insiders who have quit amid fears that 'superintelligence' could lead to human extinction within ten years. Further details of the plans will be released in Wednesday's Budget, with additional proposals to be outlined next week.
