UK commits £130 million to AI-powered cyber defenses

The UK government has announced £130 million for AI-powered cybersecurity as part of a wider £600 million-plus spending package. The plans include autonomous agents that identify security flaws across critical infrastructure before attackers exploit them, alongside investment in biosecurity, domestic technology companies and semiconductor expertise.

A new National Cyber Shield will receive £60 million, including a £25 million challenge fund for British cybersecurity firms. A regulatory sandbox will test autonomous security tools across infrastructure, government and industry. Another £70 million will establish the National Exposure and Real-Time Vulnerability (NERV) Centre to identify weaknesses across infrastructure and the wider economy. Deployment dates and limits on autonomous action remain unspecified.

The announcement follows the PHP2Shell security scare, which forced dozens of government websites offline. The National Cyber Security Centre worked with OpenAI to coordinate disclosure after AI-assisted researchers discovered vulnerabilities. Ministers also allocated another £120 million to the AI Security Institute, which tests advanced systems for dangerous capabilities.

A National AI Biosecurity Initiative will receive £165 million, including £100 million for an independent, non-profit lab focused on detecting biological threats and accelerating vaccines and treatments. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind and Basecamp Research are involved. Further funding will support British AI companies, research procurement, chip-design training and studies of AI’s effects on employment and the economy.