UK Government unveils new plans to tackle AI-powered child abuse 

The UK AI Safety Institute has been rebranded in a bid to strengthen national security, the technology secretary has announced.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Peter Kyle revealed the organisation will become the UK AI Security Institute as part of the government’s plan to ramp up efforts to tackle the threat posed by AI.

As part of the rebrand, the institute will launch a new criminal misuse team that will investigate a range of crime and security issues, one of which will be the use of AI to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). It comes two weeks after the UK announced new legislation targeting those who own or distribute AI tools designed to create CSAM, making it punishable with up to five years in prison.

The new update will also see ministers focus on controlling AI-powered weaponry as well as the use the technology in cyber-attacks.

Kyle described the changes as “the logical next step” in ensuring AI was developed safely and said they will be backed by partnerships across government.

He said: “The work of the AI Security Institute won’t change, but this renewed focus will ensure our citizens – and those of our allies – are protected from those who would look to use AI against our institutions, democratic values, and way of life.

“The main job of any government is ensuring its citizens are safe and protected, and I’m confident the expertise our Institute will be able to bring to bear will ensure the UK is in a stronger position than ever to tackle the threat of those who would look to use this technology against us.”

The institute will partner with the defence science and technology laboratory and the Ministry of Defence’s science and technology organisation, to assess the risks posed by frontier AI, as well as work with the Home Office to research crime.

Kyle also said the government had secured a deal with US AI company Anthropic, to design a revamp of public services and drive scientific breakthroughs. It is understood this is the first of a string of agreements the government is looking to secure with several AI firms.