UK announces £600m AI security package and biosecurity lab

The UK government has announced a £600 million package for artificial-intelligence security, including £100 million to establish a lab intended to detect biological threats and help develop medical countermeasures. The AI Biosecurity Lab will use AI to support work on emerging biological risks and potential future pandemics, officials said. OpenAI and Anthropic are expected to provide up to £200 million in AI-model credits for the initiative, according to the government. The credits are not government funding. The lab’s detailed remit and operating arrangements have yet to be set out. Chancellor John Healey is expected to provide further details at the Budget next week. AI Minister Kanishka Narayan described the planned institution as a centre bringing together scientific expertise to help protect the UK as AI develops. The wider package includes an additional £120 million for the UK AI Security Institute, which evaluates advanced AI risks and is expected to develop standards. The government also announced £70 million for a National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability Centre, intended to use AI tools to detect vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure and the economy. A...