UK commits £600 million to AI biosecurity and cyber defense

The UK Government outlined around £600 million in funding focused largely on protection from health and security threats involving AI, Reuters reports. The package includes £100 million for a new AI Biosecurity Lab and £65 million to develop countermeasures against pathogens.

OpenAI will provide £100 million in compute and model credits to the lab through its Rosalind Biodefense program. Anthropic will provide up to £100 million in model credits, model access and technical support. Google DeepMind and Basecamp Research will contribute research support, models and scientific expertise.

The government will provide another £120 million to the AI Security Institute and £130 million for cyber defense projects covering critical infrastructure and the wider economy. It will also direct £60 million to British companies working on robotics, autonomous systems and manufacturing, and £60 million to AI research and procurement contracts.

Additional funding includes £23 million for research into the economic effects of AI, £15 million for a prize focused initially on health care policy problems, and £30 million for regional mayors to support local AI projects.