After four months of building a team that can evaluate the risks of frontier AI models, the UK’s previously-announced Frontier AI Taskforce will now evolve to become the AI Safety Institute, with Ian Hogarth continuing as its Chair.

The institute will test new types of the technology, both before and after they are released to address the potentially harmful capabilities of AI models. This includes exploring varying possible risks from bias and misinformation through to humanity losing complete control of AI.

World leaders and major AI businesses that attended the AI Safety Summit have expressed their support for the Institute, from Japan and Canada to OpenAI and Deepmind. Researchers at the Alan Turing Institute and Imperial College London have also welcomed the Institute’s launch, alongside representatives of the tech sector in TechUK and the Startup Coalition.

The UK government has said that when undertaking its research, the AI Safety Institute will work closely with the Alan Turing Institute, the national institute for data science and AI.

Speaking on the launch, prime minister Rishi Sunak remarked: “Our AI Safety Institute will act as a global hub on AI safety, leading on vital research into the capabilities and risks of this fast-moving technology.

“It is fantastic to see such support from global partners and the AI companies themselves to work together so we can ensure AI develops safely for the benefit of all our people. This is the right approach for the long-term interests of the UK.”

Secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology, Michelle Donelan, also commented: “The AI Safety Institute will be an international standard bearer.

“With the backing of leading AI nations, it will help policymakers across the globe in gripping the risks posed by the most advanced AI capabilities, so that we can maximise the enormous benefits.

“We have spoken at length about the Summit at Bletchley Park being a starting point, and as we reach the final day of discussions, I am enormously encouraged by the progress we have made and the lasting processes we have set in motion.”

Recommended reading

• Groundbreaking Drone Delivery Project Set to Launch in Scotland
• UK’s First Medical Drone Delivery Network Begins Next Phase
• £10m Funding to Support Medical Drone Deliveries Across Scotland

The announcement of the AI Safety Institute comes during a week where the UK government has declared a slew of AI-oriented actions and initiatives, both relating to and outwith the scope of the recently-held AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park.

For instance, towards the start of the week, the government unveiled a £118 million funding package, specifically to increase the UK’s artificial intelligence skills and also drive innovation. The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University secured a share of this pot to create a robotics safety centre that aims to train new PhD students in verification and certification systems for robotics and AI.

On Wednesday, which marked the start of the two-day UK AI Summit, the government also announced that it’s teaming up with global partners — such as the US, Canada, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation — to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence in Africa. The UK is helping to fund £80 million for this.

From the Summit itself, 28 nations signed a “landmark” agreement — the Bletchley Declaration. It saw Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as the EU, agreeing to the need to understand and collectively manage potential AI risks through a new joint global effort.

While the Summit brought together government and tech figures from across the globe, the Scottish Government’s innovation minister, Richard Lochhead, said this week that he was “disappointed the Scottish Government is not represented at the summit, despite requesting a place along with other devolved administrations.”

However, he also noted that after a meeting with Michelle Donelan, she “committed to closely engage with the Scottish Government going forward. I hope this happens.”