The announcement comes as the UK positions itself as a global leader in AI safety research.
OpenAI is contributing approximately £5.6 million, with Microsoft adding further support, lifting the total funding for the project to over £27 million. That pool already supports 60 projects across eight countries, with a second round of grants expected later this year.
The Alignment Project tackles a core challenge in AI: steering increasingly capable systems to reliably do what humans intend, reducing unexpected behaviours and safety risks. Research spans foundational theory, control methods, and rigorous testing frameworks.
Industry leaders welcome the funding, but some caution against overreliance on international tech giants.
Mark Boost, CEO of UK-based cloud provider Civo, said: “Any government-led initiative to improve AI safety should be commended. However, safety goes beyond AI alignment. It also depends on where the data is housed and who owns the infrastructure.
While it is pleasing to see global tech giants invest in UK research, there is a pressing need to balance international partnerships and funding with national control over AI data infrastructure.
“It is critical that the UK’s AI innovation isn’t overly dependent on foreign-owned tech giants that exert undue influence over how national data is governed and where our digital sovereignty begins.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy called the partnership “invaluable” for continuing the UK’s safety efforts, while UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan stressed that alignment research is central to public trust in AI.
The coalition now spans government bodies, research institutes, and major tech players, including Canada’s AI Safety Institute, Anthropic, and Amazon Web Services. As AI expands into healthcare, public services, and the economy, the UK aims to ensure innovation goes hand-in-hand with oversight, control, and national digital sovereignty.
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