The UK government has announced a £118 million funding initiative aimed at equipping the country with essential AI skills to safeguard job prospects. This significant investment is set to benefit 12 universities, including the University of Bristol, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Southampton, which will establish Centres for Doctoral Training in AI.
The £117 million public funding allocation was initially unveiled in March as part of the government’s Science and Technology Framework. The distribution of funds is under the management of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which has also earmarked an additional £1 million for a new grant program designed to attract AI talent to the UK.
Additionally, the government has already committed £8.1 million to support AI and data science postgraduate course scholarships. Michelle Donelan, the tech secretary, emphasized that these AI doctoral training centers will “future-proof our nation’s skills base, ensuring that the British workforce can fully harness the benefits of AI as it continues to advance.”
Other academic institutions receiving funding for AI training centers include Imperial College London, the University of Manchester, and the University of Lincoln.
This £118 million initiative coincides with the UK hosting the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, where government officials from 27 countries, Silicon Valley leaders, and academics will convene at the former home of top-secret World War II codebreakers.
Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, CEO of UKRI, highlighted the UK’s strong position to leverage the potential of AI for various areas of improvement, emphasizing the importance of nurturing talented individuals and teams for responsible and trustworthy AI adoption.
In anticipation of the AI Safety Summit, the government also earmarked an additional £100 million to support research for treatments targeting incurable diseases.
Derek Mackenzie, CEO of recruitment agency Investigo, part of The IN Group, expressed support for the UK’s investment in AI skills, recognizing the increasing demand for such expertise and the vital role that individuals play in maximizing the potential of AI.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has articulated his ambition to position the UK as the “geographical home” of AI safety, with the summit playing a pivotal role in achieving this goal.
