UK commits approximately £600 million to AI security, with a biosecurity lab at the center

The UK government has unveiled an AI-focused security funding package worth approximately £600 million, or about $800 million. Its target is the biological and cyber threats that artificial intelligence could make worse. The centerpiece is a new AI Biosecurity Lab, described as the world’s first organization dedicated to AI biosecurity. Where the money goes The announcement came on October 23, 2026, ahead of the upcoming Budget. Biosecurity gets the largest themed slice, at £165 million. Of that, £100 million goes to the AI Biosecurity Lab, known as AIBL. Another £65 million is set aside for pathogen countermeasures. Big Tech is also involved. OpenAI and Anthropic will provide up to £200 million in model credits for the biosecurity effort. Cyber defence gets £130 million. That money funds two new programmes: the National Cyber Shield and the National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability Centre. The rest of the package spreads across several smaller buckets: £120 million for the AI Security Institute £60 million for a fund backing British companies applying AI to robotics, autonomous systems and manufacturing £60 million for AI research and procurement contracts £23 million in extra...