# John Healey pledges to use budget to harness power of AI to bolster Britain's security

DevFeed: [John Healey pledges to use budget to harness power of AI to bolster Britain's security](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/john-healey-pledges-to-use-budget-to-harness-power-of-ai-to-bolster-britain-s-security-98647.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/24/john-healey-pledges-to-use-budget-to-harness-power-of-ai-to-bolster-britains-security>)

Author: Richard Partington Senior economics correspondent

Published: 2026-10-24T05:00:24Z

Content type: news

Language: en

Sources: [The Guardian | Technology](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-guardian-technology.md>)

Topics: [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [AI Strategy](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-strategy.md>), [national security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/national-security.md>), [future of AI](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/future-of-ai.md>), [Finance](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/finance.md>), [Security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/security.md>)

Tags: [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [ai-artificial-intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-artificial-intelligence.md>), [ai-chip](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-chip.md>), [ai-security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-security.md>), [ai-security-institute](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-security-institute.md>), [andy-burnham](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/andy-burnham.md>), [artificial-intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/artificial-intelligence.md>), [biosecurity](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/biosecurity.md>), [budget](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/budget.md>), [budget-2026](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/budget-2026.md>), [budget-2026-uk-news-england-john-healey-ai-artificial-intelligence-economic-policy-tax-and-spendin](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/budget-2026-uk-news-england-john-healey-ai-artificial-intelligence-economic-policy-tax-and-spendin.md>), [business](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/business.md>), [cyber-attacks](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cyber-attacks.md>), [cyber-risks](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cyber-risks.md>), [economic-growth](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/economic-growth.md>), [economic-policy](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/economic-policy.md>), [england](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/england.md>), [government](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/government.md>), [john-healey](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/john-healey.md>), [risks](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/risks.md>), [security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/security.md>), [tax-and-spending](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tax-and-spending.md>), [uk-news](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/uk-news.md>)

## AI overview

John Healey says the budget will commit hundreds of millions of pounds to a "distinctively British" AI effort intended to support growth and national security while limiting reliance on other countries. Plans include fresh investment in the AI Security Institute and other critical institutions, AI chip design capability in Edinburgh, an AI Centre of Excellence in Manchester, and GBP 10 million a year to study how AI may reshape jobs and industry. The Treasury also plans to back up to GBP 300 million in public-private investment for an AI Biosecurity Lab to help protect against emerging biological threats. The proposals address cyber and other security risks alongside concerns about job disruption, while aiming to spread AI's economic benefits.

## Source excerpt

Chancellor says government to commit hundreds of millions to develop 'distinctively British' approach to AI John Healey has pledged to use Wednesday's budget to harness the power of artificial intelligence to bolster Britain's security and prosperity against the risks in the accelerating global technology arms race. As he prepares for his debut budget, the chancellor said that Andy Burnham's government would commit hundreds of millions of pounds to develop a "distinctively British" approach to AI that would capitalise on the benefits of the frontier technology. Continue reading...