Turing AI Institute leadership addresses staff concerns amid funding threat
Leaders of the UK’s Turing AI Institute acknowledge staff challenges as whistleblowers warn of potential collapse following government directives on defence priorities.
The UK’s national institute for AI has acknowledged that recent months have been challenging as the charity undergoes significant change.
This comes after staff filed a whistleblowing complaint with the Charity Commission, citing serious and escalating concerns.
The employees warned that the institute, which receives £100m in government funding, could collapse after Technology Secretary Peter Kyle ordered it to prioritise defence work and threatened to withdraw support.
In a letter seen by INLIBER, Chair Doug Gurr assured staff the institute would "step up at a time of national need" and has formed a senior working group with government and institute representatives.
However, whistleblowers described the response as "performative". "Just talk, no action, nothing has changed," they said anonymously, fearing reprisal.
Gurr and CEO Jean Innes did not directly address accusations of a toxic culture of retaliation and defensiveness. They stated they had not seen the whistleblowers’ letter but reaffirmed their commitment to honesty, integrity and transparency, linking to the institute’s whistleblowing guidelines.
Despite calls from whistleblowers and Peter Kyle for leadership changes, the letter made no reference to staff turnover or management reshuffle. Several senior employees have already left, and more roles may be cut or not renewed as restructuring continues.
The institute’s leaders promise action and transparency, yet employees warn the crisis remains unresolved as funding pressures mount.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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