London – The AI Safety Institute located in the UK has been officially rebranded as the UK AI Security Institute, solidifying the government’s focus on national security risks concerning AI and its criminal misuse. Tech Secretary Peter Kyle announced the power change at the Munich Security Conference, marking the commitment of the UK to safeguarding citizens from cyber threats, AI-related crimes, and risks to critical infrastructure.
Speaking about the significance of the update, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle 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. The main job of any government is ensuring its citizens are safe and protected, and I’m confident the expertise our Institute will be able to bring to bear will ensure the UK is in a stronger position than ever to tackle the threat of those who would look to use this technology against us.”
At the core of the newly reinforced mission of the Institute is a criminal misuse team set up in partnership with the Home Office. This group will investigate AI-facilitated cybercrime, fraud, and the use of AI to miscreate disturbing content including child sexual abuse images.
The AI Security Institute will collaborate closely with established national security bodies such as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to investigate AI risks in biological, chemical, and cyber warfare. Unlike its abandoned predecessor, the new institution cannot engage in activities centered around AI bias or freedom of speech but will focus primarily on serious security threats.
Concurrently with the security upgrade, the UK government is joining hands with Anthropic, one of the leading AI companies. Facilitated under the auspices of the Sovereign AI unit, the agreement seeks to maximize AI’s economic potential while guaranteeing use for good.
Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic said, “AI has the potential to transform how governments serve their citizens. We look forward to exploring how Anthropic’s AI assistant Claude could help UK government agencies enhance public services, with the goal of discovering new ways to make vital information and services more efficient and accessible to UK residents. We will continue to work closely with the UK AI Security Institute to research and evaluate AI capabilities in order to ensure secure deployment.”
As part of its Greater Change Agenda, which wants to use AI to amplify productivity, to enhance public services, and accelerate economic growth, the UK government is looking for other partnerships in AI.
The rebranding of the AI Security Institute follows the UK government’s recent AI blueprint for national renewal, positioning the country as a leader in both AI security and innovation. Chair of the AI Security Institute Ian Hogarth 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 marks the next stage of tackling those risks.”
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