Investing.com — The British government announced approximately £600 million ($800 million) in artificial intelligence funding on Saturday, targeting biological threats, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.
The largest portion of the funding will support a new biosecurity initiative designed to strengthen Britain’s ability to identify and respond to emerging biological threats.
The programme includes £100 million for an AI-powered laboratory focused on detecting biological threats and another £65 million to develop countermeasures against dangerous pathogens.
AI minister Kanishka Narayan said the government wants the AI Biosecurity Lab to become a leading international institution combining scientific expertise with advanced technology to protect public health.
OpenAI and Anthropic will contribute up to £200 million in AI model credits to support the initiative, while Google DeepMind and London-based biotechnology startup Basecamp Research will provide additional assistance.
The government will also allocate another £120 million to its existing AI Security Institute, strengthening research into the risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems.
Separately, £130 million will fund two cybersecurity initiatives aimed at improving protection across critical infrastructure and the wider economy.
These include the National Cyber Shield and the National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability Centre, which will focus on identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities.
Another £60 million will support investments in British companies developing AI applications for robotics, autonomous systems and manufacturing.
The government has earmarked a further £60 million for AI research and procurement contracts, alongside £23 million to examine the technology’s economic impact.
Additional allocations include £18 million for a chip design academy and £15 million for a competition supporting AI solutions to public policy challenges, initially focusing on healthcare.
Regional mayors will receive £30 million to support local AI initiatives, while Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre will receive additional, unspecified funding to expand its Manchester operations.
The announcement comes as AI companies face substantial development costs, with Anthropic alone recording more than $12 billion in operating expenses last year, according to Reuters.
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