At today’s NATO Cyber Defence Conference, UK Government has announced the new Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR), which Plexal is proud to be part of.
To boost Britain’s cyber resilience and support growth, in addition to Plexal, other LASR partners include the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, GCHQ, National Cyber Security Centre, UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl),The Alan Turing Institute, AI Safety Institute, the University of Oxford and Queen’s University Belfast.
Delivering a speech at the NATO event, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: “Cyberwar is now a daily reality. One where our defences are constantly being tested. NATO needs to continue to adapt to the world of AI, because as the tech evolves, the threat evolves. We have to stay one step ahead in this new AI arms race.
“And I am pleased today to announce that we are launching a new Laboratory for AI Security Research at the University of Oxford. It is backed by £8.2 million of funding from the UK government’s Integrated Security Fund. The lab will pull together world-class industry, academic and government experts to assess the impact of AI on our national security.”
Plexal will play a fundamental role in convening LASR’s multi-disciplinary approach by driving collaboration between stakeholders from across the global technology ecosystem. This will focus on leading engagement with industry, creating opportunities to address real-world security needs that are emerging through increasing AI adoption and commercialising novel innovations in collaboration with startups, investors and academic institutions that could address strategic challenges facing government and businesses across the UK.
This builds on Plexal’s rich heritage in supporting the UK Government’s cyber and national security agenda, having previously delivered innovation programmes such as LORCA, NCSC For Startups and Cyber Runway.
Saj Huq, CCO and Head of Innovation at Plexal, said: “The adoption of AI presents tremendous opportunities for economic growth and societal benefit but, as with any disruptive technology, increasingly presents novel threats too. Plexal is proud to be part of this world-class partnership that will deliver essential work to mitigate the increasing real world risks associated with AI.
“In keeping with this, we’ll drive the secure adoption and development of breakthrough solutions that can further enhance the resilience of both public and private sectors, creating new vectors for the growth of the UK’s world-class tech ecosystem too.”
