Funding an AI ecosystem that fosters safety, security, and reliability could unlock over £18 billion a year in the UK by 2030, according to new research from the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS).

Building up AI assurance is key, researchers argue in a paper published by the Social Market Foundation and UK Day One Project in growing the UK’s infrastructure and technological power.

The research found that there is a burgeoning demand for new AI assurance technologies (AIAT)- solutions for AI alignment, security, auditing, authentication, and risk management.

New modelling compiled by the researchers suggests that the global AIAT market will reach $276 billion by 2030, but most of these AIATs currently need research and development investment to operate at scale.

The research paper claims that the UK has a “head-start” in the AIAT landscape, with its AI Safety Institute (AISI) and a fledgling startup scene in the arena.

But uncertainties around regulations, technical priorities and demand mean that the global AIAT market is still very much up for grabs.

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The paper therefore recommends that the UK establishes an inter-departmental group to guide AI assurance policies, and produce a three-year roadmap for introducing mandatory standards, in line with the EU and the US.

Researchers are also calling on the new UK government to direct £10m of the AISI’s existing budget into seed funding for AIATs, as well as granting companies that are developing these tools free access to public compute.

Moreover, the researchers want a commissioned study on the barriers – both technical and commercial – to developing AIATs and bringing them to market.