Alan Turing Institute Launches New AI Mission for UK Cybersecurity, Health, Environment

The Alan Turing Institute, the UK's leading AI and data science center, has launched a new science and innovation programme focusing on defence, national security, environment, and health following internal turmoil and leadership resignations. This strategic shift responds to government demands for the Institute to prioritize national security and cyber defence, including protecting critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks. Former RAF Air Commodore Blythe Crawford has been appointed to advise on how the Institute can support government ambitions in defence and intelligence. In recent months, the Institute closed or spun off 78 projects that did not align with its renewed mission and reaffirmed its commitment to impactful research such as digital twins of human hearts for healthcare. The Institute's chair, Doug Gurr, stated that whistleblower allegations of financial mismanagement and toxic workplace culture were independently investigated and found to lack substance. The overarching goal is to leverage AI and data science to make the UK more secure, healthy, and resilient amid rising concerns over cyber threats.