UK launches AI Safety Institute

The UK has launched the world's first AI Safety Institute, which will be tasked with testing the safety of emerging types of AI.

The Frontier AI Taskforce will now evolve to become the AI Safety Institute, with Ian Hogarth continuing as chair.

TheInstitute will look to work closely with the Alan Turing Institute, as the national institute for data science and AI and will test new types of frontier AI before and after they are released to address the potentially harmful capabilities of AI models, including exploring all the risks, from social harms like bias and misinformation, to the most unlikely but extreme risk.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said: "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 said: "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."