The UK government on Monday took a significant step with its artificial intelligence (AI) endeavors, as the AI Safety Institute (AISI) expanded its reach outside the country.

UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan announced that AISI, established in November 2023 to examine and tackle risks in AI platforms, will open its first overseas office in San Francisco, California, this summer with a research director set to lead a team of technical staff.

The institute’s London office will continue to assess and use expertise for evaluating the potential risks of advanced AI technologies.

The news came ahead of the second AI Safety Summit, where Britain is set to co-host the two-day event alongside South Korea in Seoul later this week.

Accessing US’s AI Epicenter and Strengthening AI Safety

AISI’s expansion is significant as it helps further grow its technical prowess and solidify its position as a global authority on AI safety.

With an office in San Francisco, the UK will be able to access the Bay Area, the epicenter of AI activity in the US and the base of operations for tech giants including OpenAI Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Google LLC, as well as AI startup Anthropic PBC.

Tapping into Silicon Valley also allows Britain to better grasp and see the AI efforts of such companies. That is important for the UK, which considers AI and technology integral to economic development and investment.

Certain experts have recently reinforced the urgency of stronger global coordination in regulating AI technologies, warning of potential existential risks. These risks, they argue, could be as severe as societal-scale threats posed by pandemics, climate change, and nuclear war.

AISI is expected to work more closely with the US due to the expansion, enabling it to broaden the UK’s collaboration and efforts to address AI safety while disclosing research and performing joint assessments of AI models that can communicate the technology’s safety policies globally.