A new AI research lab is to be created to unlock breakthroughs which could transform industries includes healthcare, transport, science and technology.

The Fundamental AI Research Lab will be backed by £40 million of government funding. It is part of the delivery of the UKRI AI Strategy.

The lab will work on AI that supports earlier medical diagnoses, more resilient infrastructure, faster scientific discovery and better day to day tools for people and public services.

The funding call is now open for applications, which will be assess by a peer review panel Chaired by Raia Hadsell, who is a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) AI ambassador supporting government to unlock the transformational benefits of AI for society.

AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said: "AI is already doing things we could never have imagined just a few years ago, like helping to diagnose cancer. It can and will do even more – but if we want this technology to be a force for good, we need to make sure the next big AI breakthroughs are made in Britain.

"This is a long-term investment in the brilliant minds who will keep the UK in the AI fast lane. If we are the ones breaking new ground on what AI can do, we can make sure our values are baked in from the outset. This is a critical part of our mission to make AI work for everyone."

Raia Hadsell, VP, Research at Google DeepMind and UK government AI Ambassador said: "AI has the ability to solve humanity’s most complex problems, and fundamental research that helps this technology achieve its full potential is key. The UK has the world-class talent and academic ecosystem to drive transformational research, and I am excited to see the proposals that emerge from this call."