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Google DeepMind, the London-based artificial intelligence research company owned by Google, has announced a partnership with the United Kingdom to accelerate scientific discovery and modernize public services through AI. Under the agreement unveiled in December 2025, DeepMind will establish its first fully automated research laboratory in the country next year. The facility will use robotics and AI to conduct autonomous experiments focused on developing new superconducting materials capable of carrying electricity with zero resistance.
The automated lab will operate in full integration with Gemini, DeepMind’s suite of large-scale AI models, to automate experimentation and accelerate discovery in materials science. Researchers will apply these systems to identify and test new superconductors that could enable low-cost medical imaging and improve the performance of next-generation computer chips. The British government described the project as part of its plan to reinforce the country’s standing in global science and technology while stimulating industrial innovation. The initiative follows Google’s earlier £5 billion investment in UK AI infrastructure and a separate agreement to modernize government IT systems.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the partnership exemplifies the use of artificial intelligence for public good. “This partnership will make sure we harness developments in AI for public good so that everyone feels the benefits,” he stated. “That means using AI to tackle everyday challenges like cutting energy bills thanks to cheaper, greener energy and making our public services more efficient so that taxpayers’ money is spent on what matters most to people.” Technology Secretary Liz Kendall described DeepMind as “the perfect example of UK-US tech collaboration,” emphasizing that the agreement could “unlock cleaner energy, smarter public services, and new opportunities which will benefit communities up and down the country.”
DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis said the company’s goal is to advance science through large-scale computational tools. “AI has incredible potential to drive a new era of scientific discovery and improve everyday life,” Hassabis noted. “We’re excited to deepen our collaboration with the UK government and build on the country’s rich heritage of innovation to advance science, strengthen security, and deliver tangible improvements for citizens.” The company will also contribute to the government’s £137 million AI for Science Strategy, which aims to accelerate research on new drugs and treatments, and to the AI Opportunities Action Plan designed to ensure that AI directly benefits workers and public services.
British researchers will gain priority access to several of DeepMind’s existing platforms, including AlphaGenome, which uses AI to analyze genetic sequences and detect potential weaknesses that may lead to disease, and AI Co-Scientist, which assists in generating and testing new scientific hypotheses. AlphaFold, DeepMind’s protein-structure prediction tool already credited with breakthroughs in crop resilience and antimicrobial resistance, will also form part of this access program. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will coordinate the integration of these systems into public research efforts.
Collaboration will extend to the UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI), which studies how advanced models can be developed safely and responsibly. DeepMind and AISI will focus on foundational research that supports secure AI deployment and resilience against misuse. The partnership further explores applications in education and civil administration. A planned Gemini for Government system aims to automate repetitive administrative processes to free civil servants for strategic tasks. Another pilot, still under evaluation, would adapt Gemini for classroom use to support teachers with curriculum-aligned, safety-tested tools. DeepMind will also cooperate with British energy researchers to explore AI-assisted simulations in fusion power, a potential source of abundant, low-carbon energy.
Secretary Kendall began a two-day visit to San Francisco shortly after signing the agreement to review U.S. initiatives in educational AI and discuss progress under the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal. That bilateral framework, signed earlier this year, has already attracted over £24.25 billion in private investment for British technology ventures—equivalent to £816 million per day.
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Featured photo shows Technology Secretary Liz Kendall signs the government’s new partnership with Google DeepMind. Image via GOV.UK.
