UK allocates £600 million to address AI risks and boost biosecurity research

The UK government has announced a £600 million investment to tackle AI-related public health and safety risks, with a focus on biosecurity. A key part of the funding will go to establishing an AI Biosecurity Lab, which will receive £100 million, supported by OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind. The lab aims to identify biological threats and develop countermeasures, according to AI Minister Kishore Nadarajan. Additional funding includes £120 million for the UK AI Safety Institute and £130 million for new cybersecurity initiatives. The plan also includes £50 million for an AI-focused investment fund, £50 million for AI research and procurement, and £23 million to study AI’s economic impact. Other allocations include £18 million for a new chip design college, £15 million for awards encouraging AI-driven public policy solutions, and £30 million for local AI projects.