Burnham unveils UK-US defence AI partnership at UN

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a new UK-US defence artificial intelligence partnership in New York on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly, unveiling an agreement that will link Britain's Defence Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce with the US Department of War's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. The partnership, which Burnham was due to champion in his General Assembly speech on Tuesday, is intended to accelerate the delivery of trusted, interoperable AI and autonomous systems, strengthen deterrence and protect critical infrastructure including airspace and sea lanes. Burnham said the deal would bring together "the brightest minds to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure, deter those who threaten our security, and use the enormous potential of AI to our advantage." The announcement came as Burnham prepared for his first meeting with President Donald Trump as prime minister, scheduled for Tuesday on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Artificial intelligence is expected to dominate the discussions, with Downing Street saying the technology will play a central role in the prime minister's diplomatic meetings in New York.