Science & Tech · AI · 13 hrs ago
UK commits more than £600m to AI security and industry
The UK government has announced more than £600 million for AI projects ahead of its Budget.
The package includes £130 million for AI-powered cyber defences, including tools intended to find weaknesses in critical infrastructure before attackers do.
The plan follows a recent security scare in which flaws in the PHP programming language led dozens of government websites to be taken offline.
Ministers say AI has already helped uncover hundreds of previously unknown security flaws in parts of the public sector.
The package also funds work on AI and biological threats, including a planned lab to detect dangers and support the development of vaccines and treatments.
Other funding will support British AI companies, research and the AI Security Institute, which tests advanced systems for dangerous capabilities.
When the new cyber tools will be deployed, and how independently they can act, remains unclear.
The UK government has committed more than £600 million to AI security, biosecurity and industry.
The package includes £130 million for AI-powered cyber defences and £120 million for the AI Security Institute.
The government plans a National AI Biosecurity Initiative, including a dedicated lab, to detect biological threats and support vaccine and treatment development.
Funding will also back British AI companies, research, chip-design skills and work on AI’s effects on jobs and the economy.
The sources give different figures for the biosecurity lab: The Register reports £100 million, while the Daily Mail reports £300 million.
- Who
- The UK government, including the Treasury and Chancellor.
- What
- It committed more than £600 million to AI security, biosecurity and industry.
- When
- The package was reported on 24 and 26 October 2026, ahead of the Budget.
- Where
- The funding is for UK programmes, including a planned AI Cyber Security Centre of Excellence in Manchester.
- Why
- The government says it aims to guard against AI-related and other risks while using AI to support economic growth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Daily Mail reported that the Chancellor planned to announce the AI package in the following week’s Budget.
The Register reported the government’s package of more than £600 million, including new cyber-defence, biosecurity and industry funding.
- Overall package
- More than £600 million
- AI-powered cyber defences
- £130 million
- National Cyber Shield
- £60 million
- NERV Centre
- £70 million
- AI Security Institute
- £120 million
- Biosecurity lab funding
- £100 million according to The Register; £300 million according to the Daily Mail
3 sources
What people are saying
We need to padlock our systems, and harness AI for defense,
transform daily life
unique because it could claim capability and claim trust
Other countries look to us. Next year, when we take the leadership of the G20, the PM and I will bring together the most influential countries in the world and put AI at the top of the agenda and we will lead on making it safe both for ourselves and others as well.