Britain’s leading AI research institute called for “significant” changes to be made

The UK’s leading AI research institute has been told to make “significant” changes to its main source of taxpayer funding.

The warning comes after the Guardian revealed that the board of the Alan Turing Institute was reminded of its legal duties by the charities watchdog last month following a whistleblower complaint.

The UK’s Research and Innovation Authority (UKRI), which awarded the ATI a £100 million five-year funding package in 2024 – the institute’s largest single source of funding – said it had conducted a review of the institute and found it was underperforming in terms of strategy and value for money.

“The review concluded that the overall strategic direction and value for money are not yet satisfactory,” UKRI said.

Last summer, the government made clear it expected a strategic reorientation of the nominally independent organization, citing the need for management changes and adding that its funding could be reviewed. His warning was followed by changes at the top…