The UK government has announced a funding package of approximately £600 million, equivalent to about $800 million, to address security threats related to artificial intelligence. The initiative focuses on biological and cyber risks, with a new AI Biosecurity Lab serving as the central component.
The biosecurity sector receives the largest allocation of £165 million. This includes £100 million for the AI Biosecurity Lab and £65 million for pathogen countermeasures. Additionally, OpenAI and Anthropic have pledged up to £200 million in model credits to support these efforts.
Cybersecurity initiatives are allocated £130 million to establish the National Cyber Shield and the National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability Centre. Meanwhile, the AI Security Institute, established in 2023, will receive an additional £120 million in funding.
The package also includes £60 million for robotics and manufacturing, specifically for British firms, and £18 million to support a new chip design academy. Earlier in October 2026, Nvidia also committed $250 million toward AI safety research in the UK.
