Key facts
- UK Chancellor John Healey announced a £600 million AI investment package.
- The package aims to ensure AI advancements benefit workers and do not lead to job displacement.
- Funding includes £165 million for a National AI Biosecurity Initiative and £120 million for the AI Security Institute.
- The Sovereign AI Fund receives an additional £60 million and expands its remit to robotics and advanced manufacturing.
- £10 million annually will fund research into AI's impact on employment.
Chancellor John Healey has unveiled a package of more than £600 million dedicated to artificial intelligence, emphasizing a commitment to worker protection and national security. The announcement, made on October 24, 2026, ahead of the Budget, aims to ensure that AI advancements benefit the UK workforce and reduce reliance on foreign technology.
The investment includes significant funding for cybersecurity and biosecurity initiatives, such as a National AI Biosecurity Initiative with a new AI Biosecurity Lab, and a boost for the AI Security Institute. The Sovereign AI Fund will receive an additional £60 million, broadening its scope to include robotics and advanced manufacturing, thereby supporting domestic AI companies.
Healey's plan also allocates funds for research into AI's impact on employment and for skills development programs. This initiative seeks to foster a skilled workforce capable of adapting to automation and to position the UK as a leader in the responsible use of AI.