The UK Government has reached an agreement with AI company Anthropic to work together on the responsible development and deployment of AI systems.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said the work with Anthropic will include sharing insights on how AI can transform public services, as well as using the technology to drive scientific breakthroughs.
Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei said: "AI has the potential to transform how governments serve their citizens. We look forward to exploring how Anthropic's AI assistant Claude could help UK government agencies enhance public services, with the goal of discovering new ways to make vital information and services more efficient and accessible to UK residents.”
DSIT added that the Government will look to secure further agreements with leading AI companies as a step towards improving public services and boosting productivity and economic growth – a priority recently talked up by the prime minister.
The department has announced the agreement along with the renaming of the AI Safety Institute to the AI Security Institute and the creation of a criminal misuse team to work within it.
The moves have been announced by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, saying they reflect a renewal in the focus of the institute.
They come after a degree of controversy over signs of the UK Government reducing its focus on AI safety, and its refusal with the US to sign a new international agreement on AI, as reported by the BBC.
DSIT said the change of name for the institute – which was set up in November 2023 to evaluate the risks in frontier AI – reflects its focus on serious AI risks with security implications.
