The UK government has unveiled plans to strengthen national security and public safety through a newly revamped approach to artificial intelligence (AI).
As part of its broader “Plan for Change,” the government aims to prioritise the responsible development of AI to mitigate security risks and protect citizens from potential harm.
In a keynote address at the Munich Security Conference on 14 February, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle introduced a rebranded AI Safety Institute, now named the AI Security Institute, emphasising its heightened focus on addressing AI’s security implications.
This transformation follows the recent conclusion of the AI Action Summit in Paris and reflects growing concerns over the technology’s potential misuse.
The AI Security Institute will focus on mitigating serious risks associated with AI, such as its potential use in developing chemical and biological weapons, carrying out cyber-attacks, and enabling criminal activities like fraud and child sexual abuse. The Institute will collaborate with multiple government entities, including the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the Ministry of Defence, to assess these frontier AI risks.
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A key development under the new structure is the establishment of a criminal misuse team that will work closely with the Home Office.
This team will research various criminal threats posed by AI, with a particular emphasis on its potential role in creating child sexual abuse images. The team’s efforts will support recent legislative changes making it illegal to possess AI tools designed to generate such images.
Peter Kyle highlighted that the AI Security Institute will not focus on issues like AI bias or freedom of speech, but rather on understanding the most pressing security threats linked to the technology.
The Institute aims to build a scientific evidence base to inform policymakers, helping safeguard the UK against emerging AI risks. The Institute will also work alongside the Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to bolster the country’s cybersecurity efforts.
This announcement is part of a broader government strategy outlined earlier this year to harness AI’s potential for economic growth and national renewal. A revitalised AI Security Institute is expected to increase public confidence in AI and encourage its adoption across industries, aligning with the government’s goal of boosting productivity and economic prosperity.
In a further step toward advancing AI innovation, the UK government has secured a new partnership with AI company Anthropic. This collaboration, facilitated by the UK’s Sovereign AI unit, will focus on responsible AI development and deployment, with an emphasis on transforming public services and driving scientific advancements.
The UK government plans to continue forging similar agreements with leading AI companies, aiming to accelerate economic growth and maintain the country’s competitive edge in the global AI landscape.
Peter Kyle, secretary of State for science, innovation, and technology, said: “The changes I’m announcing today represent the logical next step in how we approach responsible AI development – helping us to unleash AI and grow the economy as part of our Plan for Change.
“The work of the AI Security Institute won’t change, but this renewed focus will ensure our citizens – and those of our allies – are protected from those who would look to use AI against our institutions, democratic values, and way of life.
Adding, Ian Hogarth, chair of the AI Security Institute, said: “The Institute’s focus from the start has been on security and we’ve built a team of scientists focused on evaluating serious risks to the public.
“Our new criminal misuse team and deepening partnership with the national security community mark the next stage of tackling those risks.”
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