New UK AI measures to become ‘global standard’

The UK Government has unveiled new guidelines to boost protections of artificial intelligence (AI) models.

Expected to set the global standard, it is hoped the initiative will boost confidence across industries and “turbocharge innovation”, the UK Government claims.

The two new codes of practice will show developers how to build secure-by-design software, making products resilient against tampering, hacking, and sabotage.

Chief executive for the National Cyber Security Centre, Felicity Oswald, added: “To make the most of the technological advances which stand to transform the way we live, cyber security must be at the heart of how we develop digital systems.

“Setting standards for our security will help improve our collective resilience and I commend organisations to follow these requirements to help keep the UK safe online.

“These measures are crucial for new businesses in the digital age, ensuring cybersecurity commitment, safeguarding personal data for users, and fostering global alignment for enhanced cyber resilience.”

The measures have been launched by UK technology minister Saqib Bhatti at the government cybersecurity conference, CYBERUK.

The announcement comes amid an ongoing cybersecurity crisis, with a recent report revealing half of business and almost a third of charities suffered a cyber breach over the last 12 months.

With the new codes the government also plans to boost UK’s economic security, with figures showing the cybersecurity sector has grown by 13 per cent over the past year and is now worth almost £12bn.

The findings, released as part of the UK Government’s Cyber Sectoral Analysis Report, also show an increase in the number of cyber security firms based in the UK.

Bhatti said: “Today’s report shows not only are we making our economy more resilient to attacks, but also bringing prosperity and opportunities to UK citizens up and down the country. It is fantastic to see such robust growth in the industry, helping us cement the UK’s position as a global leader in cyber security as we remain committed to foster the safe and sustainable development of the digital economy.”

Meanwhile, a new new microprocessor technology known as “magic chip” has been introduced as part of the Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI) report. The device is capable of preventing up to 70 per cent of current cyber-attacks.

Initiatives to “professionalise” the cyber security sector and bridge the skills gap have also been announced, including the incorporation of cyber roles into government recruitment and HR policies. 

The UK is also set to launch a new national cyber skills competition for 18–25-year-olds later this year, with the winners representing the UK at international cyber events.  ­­­­