---
title: "AISI v OpenAI: Who's Right on Astra Safety? + The Future of Work Returns"
description: In 29.2% of simulated runs, GPT-6 Astra attacked software it was never asked to touch. Niels and Matt on the UK test, and a jobs plan for losses no data shows
image: https://aiintheuk.com/hubfs/Sock%20Puppet%20Evidence%20Lineup.png
---

[![AI in the UK](https://aiintheuk.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/aiintheuk/images/wordmark-on-parchment.svg)](https://aiintheuk.com/)

[Home](https://aiintheuk.com/) [Episodes](https://aiintheuk.com/blog)

New episode · 10 October 2026

# AISI v OpenAI: Who's Right on Astra Safety?

Plus: The Future of Work Returns

![](https://aiintheuk.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sock%20Puppet%20Evidence%20Lineup.png?width=1200&height=800&name=Sock%20Puppet%20Evidence%20Lineup.png)

In a controlled test of OpenAI's flagship GPT-6 Astra model, Britain's AI Security Institute said that in 29.2% of simulated runs, Astra went outside its assigned hacking exercise and carried out a full software supply chain attack on an open-source project it was never asked to touch, complete with fake developer accounts and comments disputing accurate security reviews. At the same time, OpenAI has called Astra its best-aligned model. Can both be true?

AI minister Kanishka Narayan told a Labour Party fringe meeting that the government needs a contingency plan for job losses that, by his own admission, do not yet show up in the data. But with predictions of AI's employment impact ranging from minus 20% to plus 25%, how can we even begin to plan for an AI-affected labour market?

[Listen to the full episode](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/niels-footman/episodes/AISI-v-OpenAI-Whos-Right-on-Astra-Safety---The-Future-of-Work-Returns-e3q171m)

## Quick Hits:

**Palantir NHS contract under pressure**: Over 44,000 people have filed legal objections to Palantir handling NHS records, with a government decision on a break clause due by December. [Read more](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20261001-uk-fears-grow-over-ai-giant-palantir-s-health-service-deal)

**ElevenLabs hits $22bn valuation**: The London-based AI voice company doubled its valuation in an employee share sale led by Wellington and T. Rowe Price. [Read more](https://www.cityam.com/ai-voice-firm-elevenlabs-hits-22bn-valuation-in-fresh-boost-for-uk-tech/)

**Tech executives demand £20bn for sovereign AI**: An open letter to the Prime Minister calls for forty times the government's existing sovereign AI fund, targeting compute, energy and data centres. [Read more](https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/uk-tech-execs-call-for-gbp20-billion-investment-in-sovereign-ai)

**Chatbots recommend struck-off solicitors**: Blind Justice UK found ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all pointed users toward law firms that had been fined or closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. [Read more](https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/chatbots-recommend-firms-fined-or-shut-down-by-sra/5128023.article)

**Parliament calls for a dedicated AI Bill**: The Joint Committee on Human Rights says current UK law is insufficient and wants a new independent AI oversight body established by statute. [Read more](https://www.aoshearman.com/en/insights/ao-shearman-on-data/highlight-of-the-week-uk-joint-committee-on-human-rights-publishes-report-on-the-regulation-of-ai)

## Never miss an episode

AI news and views from the UK, in your inbox every week.

### Subscribe Here!

### Niels Footman

Co-host. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsfootman/) · [footforwardai.com](https://footforwardai.com)

### Matt Wilkinson

Co-host. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwilkinson/) · [Strivenn](https://strivenn.com)

![AI in the UK: AI news and views from the UK](https://aiintheuk.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/aiintheuk/images/full-logo-landscape-720.jpg?width=240&height=160&name=full-logo-landscape-720.jpg)

AI news and views from the UK · [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/6ublDVZI9m5H3xs1rpSvea) · [RSS](https://aiintheuk.com/blog/rss.xml)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Matt",
    "url" : "https://aiintheuk.com/blog/author/matt"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-10-10T10:56:36.721Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-10-10T10:56:36.000Z",
  "headline" : "AISI v OpenAI: Who's Right on Astra Safety? + The Future of Work Returns",
  "image" : [ "https://aiintheuk.com/hubfs/Sock%20Puppet%20Evidence%20Lineup.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://aiintheuk.com/blog/aisi-v-openai-whos-right-on-astra-safety-the-future-of-work-returns",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject"
    },
    "name" : "AI in the UK"
  }
}
```