UK to invest £100m in AI Biosecurity Lab to help keep Brits safe from biological threats

UK to invest £100m in AI Biosecurity Lab to help keep Brits safe from biological threats The government will commit £600million to defend the country against threats to health and security from artificial intelligence with money also pledged to combat job losses The government has confirmed it is to create a national AI Biosecurity Lab to help strengthen its defences against rising biological threats as part of a huge £600million spend. The go-ahead has been given to a world-first high-security robotics initiative, which will be formally confirmed during Wednesday's Budget. Chancellor John Healey will also pledge millions across a range of initiatives aimed at shoring up the UK's ability to respond to emerging cyber and AI-enabled dangers. It comes after experts spoke of their concerns, with alarmed Artificial Intelligence industry insiders quitting amid fears 'superintelligence' is getting so out of control that humanity could be extinct inside ten years. The Chancellor's plans include £10million per year to lead the UK’s work in understanding how AI will reshape jobs and industry in the years ahead. Mr Healey confirmed: "AI will transform daily life: every firm, community, hospital, school, and every aspect of our economy can benefit. I understand and share the concerns of working people, so I am setting out a distinctively British approach to AI. "One that doesn't leave workers behind and defends our national interest, while ensuring the benefits of AI-enabled growth are felt right across the country." The government hailed what they are calling a "major package of investment to unlock the opportunities of AI in every postcode, scale up home grown AI firms, and keep the country safe from hostile threats". They say as "a vote of confidence in the UK’s leadership on AI talent and tackling biological threats" funding will be supported by up to £200million in AI model credits from OpenAI and Anthropic, plus partnerships with Google DeepMind and London-based AI life sciences pioneer Basecamp Research. Plans to increase AI spending will also see an additional £120m committed to the UK's AI Security Institute. AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said Britain cannot afford to be left behind with additional plans to be outlined next week. He said: "Our new AI Biosecurity Lab will be a major new global institution, bringing together world-leading scientific expertise to protect people from emerging biological threats and ensure Britain leads the world in AI safety and security. "As AI becomes more powerful, Britain must have the capabilities to protect its people and shape its own future. That means staying ahead of emerging threats, from cyber attacks to biological risks, while building more of the critical technology our security depends on. "We cannot afford to rely entirely on technology built overseas. By backing British science, advanced chips and our own AI companies, we can strengthen our national security, rebuild Britain’s industrial strength and create good, skilled jobs across the country." A new £70 million National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability Centre will also deploy AI tools to identify cyber vulnerabilities across our critical infrastructure and the economy. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:" I’m proud the UK has repeatedly been at the forefront of global efforts to use AI for the benefit of humankind. "Today’s investment will help the UK seize the opportunities AI presents to strengthen our national security, while staying one step ahead of those who seek to use AI to do us harm."