digiLab unveils theLab to strengthen Britain’s leadership in research for safe, sovereign and uncertainty-aware AI

UK-based AI company, digiLab, has launched theLab, a pioneering new research and development initiative dedicated to advancing trustworthy, uncertainty-aware, and high-performance AI that underpins national resilience, security, and innovation.

theLab brings together world-class expertise in Uncertainty Quantification (UQ), machine learning, and data science to develop intelligent systems that can be trusted in critical, complex, and high-stakes domains - from clean energy and advanced manufacturing to health, defence, and national infrastructure.

At the heart of theLab’s research ethos is the principle that uncertainty should be measured, not ignored. Every system developed within theLab is designed to quantify confidence, ensuring decisions are explainable, accountable, and robust.

Its work centres on three key principles - embedding uncertainty quantification throughout AI workflows; developing Specialist Lightweight Intelligence Models (SLIMs) that are sovereign, secure, and risk-aware; and creating human-guided, expert-informed intelligence that keeps people firmly in the loop.

Dr Andrew Corbett, Director of AI, digiLab: “At digiLab, we believe the next generation of AI must be as reliable as it is revolutionary, theLab allows us to explore the frontiers of what’s possible - building intelligent systems that combine transparency, scientific rigour, and human insight, so organisations can act with confidence when uncertainty matters most”.

theLab’s establishment reinforces digiLab’s commitment to supporting the UK’s vision for secure, sovereign, and responsible AI adoption, ensuring the technology strengthens rather than destabilises the systems that underpin society. Through its proprietary platform, The Uncertainty Engine, digiLab enables organisations to safely deploy explainable AI at scale - accelerating innovation while safeguarding trust.

The launch comes at a critical moment for the UK’s rapidly growing AI economy. According to the UK Government’s Artificial Intelligence Sector Study 2024, the AI sector generated £23.9 billion in revenue last year - up nearly 70% from 2023 - and now employs around 86,000 people nationwide. This growth highlights both the scale of opportunity and the urgent need for advanced R&D infrastructure to ensure innovation remains safe, explainable, and sovereign. Through theLab, digiLab is stepping into that gap - helping to future-proof the UK’s competitive advantage in high-stakes, trustworthy AI.

As part of its expansion, digiLab has appointed Dr Katie Finch as Director of theLab, bringing extensive experience in research leadership, digital research strategy and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Prior to joining digiLab, Dr Finch was Assistant Director for Digital Research and Head of Research Software and Analytics at the University of Exeter, where she established the Exeter Research Software Engineering group.

Dr Katie Finch, Director of theLab: “I’m thrilled to be joining digiLab at such an exciting point in its journey, theLab represents a bold step forward for the UK’s AI capability - a space where world-class research meets real-world application. My focus will be on accelerating our research agenda, growing our partnerships, and ensuring our work delivers meaningful, trustworthy innovation that strengthens national resilience and helps the UK lead in sovereign, responsible AI.”

digiLab’s initial projects within theLab include work on AI-driven coral reef restoration analytics, cybersecurity model assurance, and sensor-placement algorithms for nuclear fusion applications.

Each initiative reflects theLab’s goal of translating high-impact research into deployable, trustworthy AI that advances both societal and economic resilience.