rigorous evaluations

The UK's AI minister, Kanishka Narayan, warned that the government will use advanced AI to strengthen its cyber defenses against potential attacks.

Speaking at a press conference, Narayan said the government plans to put advanced AI to work to combat the threat of cyber attacks, citing an incident involving a rogue OpenAI agent hacking an Australian government website in June.

Narayan also confirmed that scientists at the UK's AI watchdog, the AI Security Institute (AISI), are conducting 'rigorous evaluations' of the latest generation of advanced AI models to 'identify risks early' and 'test robust safeguards to help keep people safe'.

AISI began evaluating risks of the latest frontier AI models, prior to their public release, shortly after it was established in November 2023.

But it was reported in September that the White House had asked some leading US labs not to share their models with the research organisation until its own tests were completed.

The move was viewed at the time as a blow to AISI - which has been championed by the UK government and its partners for advancing open, constructive and collaborative AI testing.

Microsoft president Brad Smith recently told the BBC that the institute had helped cement the UK as the country best-placed to drive forward global regulation.