New AI lab for UK spies to counter Russia's cyberwar

British spies will seek to counter Russian cyberwarfare with a new laboratory for artificial intelligence, with a senior government minister warning that Russia would not “think twice” about targeting the UK.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden spoke at the Nato cyber defence conference at Lancaster House last night. Vowing never to let Vladimir Putin deter the UK from supporting Ukraine, Mr McFadden said the UK and its Nato allies are watching Moscow and combating its attacks both publicly and “behind the scenes”.

Mr McFadden warned that Britain “learned long ago” not to appease dictators and that Mr Putin “will not be successful” in attempting to weaken backing for Ukraine. And the minister, responsible for UK national security, announced a new Laboratory for AI Security Research aimed at helping the UK stay ahead in “the new AI arms race”.

The centre will bring together GCHQ, Oxford University, the National Cyber Security Centre, the Alan Turing Institute and numerous government departments, and be handed an initial £8.22m. Mr McFadden said: “Be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and others in this room are watching Russia. We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes.