UK plans £600 million-plus for AI skills and security

The UK government has announced more than £600 million in planned AI investment ahead of the Budget, targeting specialist training, research, cybersecurity and domestic technology development. The measures aim to reduce reliance on overseas technologies while building British expertise in semiconductors and advanced computing.

Education commitments include £18 million for a UK Advanced Chip Design Academy and £30 million for local AI partnerships bringing together councils, businesses, universities and colleges. A new AI cybersecurity training centre in Manchester will develop government specialists. An additional £23 million over three years will support the AI Economics Institute’s research into employment, productivity, economic growth and living standards.

Security funding includes £165 million for the National AI Biosecurity Initiative and £120 million for the AI Security Institute. OpenAI and Anthropic will separately provide up to £200 million in AI model credits and other support for a new biosecurity lab. Cybersecurity allocations include £60 million for a National Cyber Shield using agentic AI and £70 million for a centre identifying vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure and the wider economy.

Domestic technology development will receive an additional £60 million through the Sovereign AI Fund, focusing on physical and industrial AI. A further £60 million will support research and development procurement in healthcare, AI security and responsible adoption. Detailed delivery dates have not been specified for the chip design academy, Manchester training centre or local partnerships.