The UK’s Technology Secretary has called for a sweeping transformation of the Alan Turing Institute (ATI), urging a shift in focus towards national defence, security, and sovereign AI capabilities.
In a direct letter to the institute’s leadership, Peter Kyle MP insisted that significant reforms are essential to ensure ATI realises its full potential as a government-funded artificial intelligence research body.
Seen by The Guardian, Kyle’s letter to ATI Chair Doug Gurr proposes reorienting the institute’s strategic direction, placing defence and security projects at its core.
This pivot would likely mean deprioritising ATI’s current focus areas such as healthcare and environmental research, key pillars under the existing “Turing 2.0” strategy.
“Going forward, national security and defence must become central to the Alan Turing Institute’s mission,” Kyle wrote, highlighting the need to deepen collaboration with Britain’s security, intelligence, and defence sectors.
The letter also signalled dissatisfaction with current leadership, suggesting new appointments may be necessary to guide the institute through this strategic overhaul. “It is essential that ATI’s leadership is aligned with this redefined vision,” he stated, hinting at upcoming executive changes.
ATI, currently chaired by former Amazon UK boss Doug Gurr, has already been undergoing internal restructuring under CEO Jean Innes. However, the changes have triggered concern, with one in five staff warning the institute’s credibility is now “seriously at risk”. ATI began 2024 with 440 employees but has since commenced a redundancy programme.
Despite operating as a nominally independent body, ATI recently secured £100 million in government funding over five years. Kyle’s letter made clear that future financial support would hinge on the institute’s alignment with national security priorities.
He also confirmed a continued three-year commitment to defence-related R&D, alongside plans to embed more national security personnel within ATI.
Prominent voices in the academic community have raised alarms over the proposed shift. Dame Wendy Hall, a leading AI expert and co-author of the 2017 government AI review, warned that the institute risks losing its national remit.
“If ATI focuses solely on defence and security, it can no longer claim to be a national AI institute,” she argued. “It becomes too narrow in scope.”
The government has already signalled this strategic redirection by rebranding the AI Safety Institute—originally launched under Rishi Sunak’s leadership—as the AI Security Institute earlier this year.
Kyle referenced the government’s 50-point AI Action Plan, calling it a “testament” to Britain’s AI ambitions. The roadmap outlines bold targets, including a 20-fold increase in state-owned AI compute capacity by 2030 and widespread AI integration across public services.
An ATI spokesperson responded by reaffirming the institute’s dedication to “high-impact missions” aligned with national interests, including defence.
“We share the government’s vision for AI innovation that benefits the UK and look forward to working in close partnership to deliver on this mission,” the spokesperson said.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology echoed the sentiment, describing the reforms as a “natural next step” for ATI. “These proposed changes will not only maximise value for money but will also place the Alan Turing Institute at the forefront of securing Britain’s national interests,” a departmental spokesperson stated.
