UK government funds AI Biosecurity Lab to counter biological risks
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The UK government launched the AI Biosecurity Lab (AIBL) as part of its National AI Biosecurity Initiative, committing £100 million ($134 million) to the project.
The lab will operate as an independent non-profit organization. It aims to bring together experts in life sciences and biosecurity to use frontier AI to identify biological threats and speed up the creation of vaccines and medical treatments. The initiative includes support from major technology companies.
OpenAI and Anthropic are each providing £100 million in model credits to give the lab access to advanced computing infrastructure. Google DeepMind will provide biosecurity experts and access to Gemini models, while Basecamp Research will offer technical expertise and AI-biology models. The UK government stated that while AI offers scientific opportunities, it also creates new biological risks and may lower the barriers for harmful activities.
The project follows a recent incident where a lab in California used AI to create a virus to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Kanishka Narayan, the British AI minister, said the lab will help Britain lead the world in AI safety and security.
