UK to invest £100m in 'world first' AI Biosecurity Lab

The UK has announced plans to invest £100 million in a world-first AI Biosecurity Lab (AIBL) as part of its budget announcement, aimed at enhancing its defenses against emerging biological threats. The chancellor, John Healey, emphasized the transformative potential of AI across various sectors, stating that it can benefit every firm, community, hospital, school, and aspect of the economy.

Healey also highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring AI's benefits are distributed widely across the country and not left behind for workers.

The new AIBL, described as a "major new global institution" by AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, will bring together world-leading scientific expertise to safeguard the UK's citizens and national interests against various threats, including cyber attacks and biological risks. The lab will focus on staying ahead of emerging threats and building critical technology essential for national security. Leading AI firms, OpenAI and Anthropic, have pledged £200 million worth of AI model credits to support the lab's operations.

In addition to the AIBL, the government will allocate £120 million to the UK's AI Security Institute (AISI) for ongoing efforts in evaluating advanced AI models and fostering a collaborative approach to AI testing. The AISI has been instrumental in promoting technical standards and guardrails for AI development. Furthermore, the Chancellor announced £60 million for a National Cyber Shield, leveraging agentic AI to bolster cyber-defenses, and £70 million for a National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability (NERV) Centre, which will utilize AI tools to identify cyber vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure and the economy.