Science Secretary Peter Kyle Orders Alan Turing Institute to Prioritize Defense and National Security, Prompting Staff Cuts

The UK government has directed the Alan Turing Institute, the country's leading artificial intelligence research center, to shift its focus from health and climate research to defense and national security. Science Secretary Peter Kyle has called for a complete overhaul of the institute to strengthen government confidence, emphasizing that AI algorithms should prioritize protection rather than prediction. This directive marks a significant change in the institute's mission, which has recently concentrated on responsible AI and ethics. The decision has led to staff reductions and sparked controversy over the narrowing of the institute's research scope.