In a significant boost to the British AI sector, the UK Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, committed to an impressive £100 million in funding for The Alan Turing Institute during his recent Spring Budget announcement. The funding injects fresh vigor into this national establishment for data science and AI, tackling some of society’s most pressing issues with advanced technology.
This £100 million cash infusion, spread out over the next five years, comes courtesy of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It marks a crucial turning point in the Institute’s new strategy.
Receiving its primary funding from the government, The Alan Turing Institute has its sights set on three domains within AI: environment and sustainability, health and defence, and national security. Its broader perspective involves striving to be the global leader in AI research, collaboration and business.
UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser noted, “The Alan Turing Institute is at the forefront of our national AI capability and has helped to cement the UK’s position as a leader in this transformative technology.” She expressed optimism that this investment will empower the Institute to delve deeper into AI innovation and contribute substantially towards the UK’s AI Strategy.
Enthusiastically receiving the funding, Dr Jean Innes, Chief Executive of The Alan Turing Institute, said, “Our purpose is to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence to change the world for the better and this £100 million investment will allow us to chart a new path over the next five years.”
Significantly, this move is part of the UK government’s broader investment strategy in AI. Previously, in October, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak revealed plans to boost taxpayer spending on AI chips and supercomputers to £400 million, aiming to position the UK as a global powerhouse in leading-edge technology.
As per the Global AI Index created by UK news source Tortoise, the UK ranks fourth among 62 countries, trailing behind the US, China, and Singapore. This only underscores the UK’s determination to advance in this realm, aiming to not just keep up with, but lead the global pace of AI advancement.
