Australia and UK forge alliance on AI safety

The Australian and UK governments have formalised a partnership to combat emerging frontier artificial intelligence threats, signing a memorandum of understanding to deepen bilateral cooperation on AI safety and security.

Signed in Canberra on May 25 by UK Minister for AI and Online Safety Kanishka Narayan and Australia’s Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Dr Andrew Charlton, the agreement establishes a direct pipeline for information-sharing and joint research between the Australian AI Safety Institute and the UK AI Security Institute.

Under the agreement, both nations will share technical expertise on rapidly evolving AI capabilities, develop international best practices for model testing, and investigate risks—including how advanced systems could be leveraged in sophisticated cyberattacks or weaponised to create online harms.

The cross-border alliance also enables staff exchanges between the two premier institutes and binds both countries to co-support the newly rebranded International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science.

The deal aligns with the Albanese government’s broader National AI Plan, which establishes Australia's own specialised AI Safety Institute to track, evaluate, and mitigate technological harms.

Commenting on the pact, Australia’s Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres emphasised that early risk identification and unified safeguards are critical to navigating the technology’s trajectory.

"Collaboration with our closest partners is how we make sure AI is safe and secure while we continue to explore the opportunities it presents," Ayres stated, cementing a democratic coalition aimed at keeping pace with a shifting geopolitical and technological paradigm.