The leadership at the UK’s national institute for artificial intelligence (AI) has acknowledged that recent months have been difficult for staff amid significant changes within the organization. This acknowledgment follows a whistleblowing complaint, submitted to the Charity Commission, in which employees raised serious concerns regarding the stability of the institute, which relies on £100 million in government funding.
According to reports, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has directed the institute to prioritize defense-related projects, warning that funding could be withdrawn if this directive is not followed. In a letter addressed to staff, Chair Dr. Doug Gurr emphasized the institute’s commitment to step up during a national need. He also mentioned the establishment of a new senior working group that includes both government officials and institute staff.
Despite this, Dr. Gurr cautioned that focusing solely on defense would not be appropriate, indicating that ongoing work in healthcare and environmental areas should also continue. Whistleblowers have criticized management’s responses as superficial, claiming that there has been no substantial change within the organization. They expressed their concerns anonymously due to fear of professional repercussions.
Dr. Gurr and Chief Executive Dr. Jean Innes did not directly address accusations regarding a purported toxic internal culture characterized by retaliation and defensiveness. They claimed they were unaware of the whistleblower letter sent to the Charity Commission, which was shared with the media.
The Turing Institute, founded in 2015 and situated at the British Library in London, has faced significant internal unrest and criticism over its research directions. The pivot towards a defense focus marks a notable change for the publicly funded entity. Although some staff members have departed in recent months, there has been no indication of management changes in response to current challenges. Further restructuring may lead to additional job losses or non-renewal of contracts as the organization adapts to these shifts.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86076qd40xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss