The UK government has announced a suite of measures to enhance national defences against the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence. Announced today, the initiative includes urgently deploying frontier AI to bolster cyber defences.
This move follows two pilot programmes that reportedly identified and addressed over 1,000 potential cyber vulnerabilities across government systems and detected potential cyber threats. The extension of this programme aims to protect public services and support wider adoption across the public sector.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan stated that Britain must act now to strengthen its defences and prepare for future serious incidents, particularly as frontier AI systems become more powerful and capable of autonomous action. The minister also confirmed that scientists at the AI Security Institute are conducting rigorous evaluations of the latest generation of advanced AI models.
The government will also explore strengthening parts of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to better protect essential services like hospitals and utilities from AI-related risks, including AI loss of control. Work is also underway with the National Cyber Security Centre and the AI Security Institute to develop responses to incidents involving AI agents.