UK's Turing AI Institute responds to staff anger about defence focus
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle wants the Alan Turing Institute to focus on defence
In a letter seen by the BBC, Chair Dr Doug Gurr said the Turing Institute would "step up at a time of national need".
They warned that the body - which receives £100m from the government - is at risk of collapse after Technology Secretary Peter Kyle instructed it to prioritise defence, and threatened to pull its funding if it did not.
It comes after staff raised "serious and escalating concerns" in a whistleblowing complaint this week submitted to the Charity Commission.
The heads of the UK's national institute for artificial intelligence (AI) have acknowledged recent months have been "challenging" for staff as the charity undergoes "substantial" change.
He said it had already established a new senior working group comprising government officials and Turing institute staff.
However he said defence should not be the "sole focus" and some work on healthcare and environmental issues would continue in line with the aims of both the government and private investors.
Whistleblowers have described the management's response as "performative".
"Just talk, no action, nothing has changed," they said, speaking to the BBC on condition of anonymity because they fear losing their jobs for speaking out.
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