UK government scraps £1.3bn tech and AI funding plans
The UK government has decided to cancel £1.3 billion in funding for technology and artificial intelligence projects that were promised by the previous Conservative administration.
This decision will affect major initiatives, including the planned exascale supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) confirmed that £800 million intended for the Edinburgh supercomputer and £500 million for the AI Research Resource (AIRR) will not be provided. The Labour government, which took office in July, stated that these commitments were not part of the previous government’s budget plans.
A DSIT spokesperson commented, “The government is making tough but necessary spending cuts across all departments due to billions of pounds in unfunded commitments. These actions are vital for restoring economic stability and advancing our national growth agenda.”
Despite the funding cuts, the government insists it remains dedicated to advancing technology. A DSIT spokesperson pointed to the launch of an AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to identify ways to strengthen compute infrastructure and support the new Industrial Strategy.
However, this decision raises concerns about the UK’s ability to stay competitive in global advanced computing and AI research. As other countries continue to make significant investments in these areas, the UK risks falling behind unless the funding gap is promptly addressed.
Blogger at www.systemtek.co.uk