John Healey pledges use of budget to boost AI security
Says the budget will commit hundreds of millions of pounds to a British approach to artificial intelligence, including new investment in security institutions…
John Healey pledges use of the budget to strengthen Britain’s AI security, saying the government will commit hundreds of millions of pounds to develop a “distinctively British” approach to artificial intelligence. The chancellor’s plans include fresh investment for the AI Security Institute and support for AI chip design in Edinburgh and a new Centre of Excellence in Manchester.
The pledge is part of Healey’s first budget, which he is due to deliver on Wednesday. It puts security measures alongside the government’s aim to use AI to support economic growth, businesses and public services.
“AI will transform daily life: every firm, community, hospital, school and every aspect of our economy can benefit,” Healey said.
AI growth and security risks
Healey said the government’s approach should protect workers and the national interest while spreading the gains from AI-enabled growth. “I understand and share the concerns of working people, so I am setting out a distinctively British approach to AI – one that doesn’t leave workers behind and defends our national interest, while ensuring the benefits of AI-enabled growth are felt right across the country,” he said.
The investment comes as officials weigh the technology’s economic promise against risks to cyber security, critical industries and jobs. The Guardian reported that Healey described the planned spending as the biggest ever investment to guard against cyber risks and AI’s disruptive potential.
Recent events have sharpened those concerns. Websites around the globe went offline this week after a serious vulnerability was found in a computer language used to build much of the web. The Guardian linked the development to rapid advances in AI.
There are also concerns that companies could replace workers with machines. Barclays is cutting 5,000 jobs as part of cost-saving plans, with bosses identifying efficiency gains from the bank’s AI rollout.
For households and businesses, the policy carries two immediate stakes: whether AI investment can support growth and public services, and whether safeguards can limit the risks of cyber disruption and job losses. The government says it wants to build domestic expertise and reduce Britain’s dependence on other countries advancing AI technology.
New investment beyond security
The planned measures include investment in AI chip-design capability in Edinburgh and a new AI Centre of Excellence in Manchester. The government says the centre would help the UK harness the technology’s benefits.
Healey is also preparing the budget as pressure on public finances grows. The Guardian reported that the war in the Middle East has sent shocks through the global economy and pushed up energy costs, with the chancellor promising households and businesses “breathing space.”
The same report said oil rose above $117 a barrel at one point on Friday, reaching its highest level for six months. Healey’s budget is expected to set out how the government will pursue AI growth while addressing security concerns and wider economic pressures.
Source: theguardian.com
