The United Kingdom will establish a new Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) to protect against emerging threats in what officials are calling a "new AI arms race," the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced yesterday at the NATO Cyber Defence Conference.
Speaking at Lancaster House, the Chancellor will outline how artificial intelligence is transforming national security landscape. "AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security. But as we develop this technology, there's a danger it could be weaponised against us. Because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield,"
The new laboratory will receive £8.22 million in initial government funding and employ a 'catalytic' model to attract additional industry investment. Partners include the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the National Cyber Security Centre, and academic institutions such as the University of Oxford and Queen's University Belfast.
Addressing the cyber threat landscape, the Chancellor will emphasise the daily reality of cyber warfare: "Cyber war is now a daily reality. One where our defences are constantly being tested. The extent of the threat must be matched by the strength of our resolve to combat it and to protect our citizens and systems."
The announcement comes amid growing concerns about state-sponsored cyber activities. "Last year, we saw the US for the first time publicly call out a state for using AI to aid its malicious cyber activity," the Chancellor noted "In this case it was North Korea who had attempted to use AI to accelerate its malware development and scan for cybersecurity gaps it could exploit. North Korea is the first, but it won't be the last."
Stephen Doughty, Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories, underscored the initiative's dual purpose: "AI has enormous potential. To ensure it remains a force for good in the world, we need to understand its threats and its opportunities. Today we have launched a new, world-leading research lab to enhance AI security to ensure the UK and our allies reap the benefits of AI, while detecting, disrupting and deterring adversaries who would use it to undermine our national security and economic prosperity."
The government will also launch a new £1 million incident response project to enhance allied cooperation in responding to cyber incidents. The laboratory will seek collaboration with Five Eyes countries and NATO allies, building on the UK's legacy as the birthplace of modern computing.
LASR is part of the government's broader cybersecurity strategy, which includes the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and the recent designation of data centres as critical national infrastructure.
The investment, whilst with good intentions, pails in comparision to the problem. Adversarial attacks on national infrastrucure would literally cripple the country. Large corporations spend more than this protecting their assets from AI and non AI Cyber threats. It may also be worth noting the one country not mentioned as a threat.