The head of the UK’s flagship artificial intelligence research body, the Alan Turing Institute, has stepped down following months of internal turmoil and calls from government for a shift in strategy.
Jean Innes, who has led the institute since 2023, announced her resignation on Thursday. The decision comes after growing staff discontent, a whistleblower complaint, and a letter from technology secretary Peter Kyle that questioned ATI’s direction and suggested the need for new leadership.
Government Push for Change
In July, Kyle wrote to the institute’s chair urging it to refocus its work on defence and national security, alongside health and the environment. He also pressed the board to ensure it had “an appropriate executive team in place” to carry out the changes.
The government, ATI’s largest funder, provides around £100m of support. Staff who lodged the whistleblower complaint warned that this backing could be at risk if the institute failed to meet ministers’ demands. They cautioned that the loss of funding “could lead to the institute’s collapse.”
Innes’ Departure
In a statement, Innes called it “a great honour” to lead the institute, citing her role in implementing a new strategy and overseeing “significant organisational transformation.” She said with that work largely complete, “now is the right time for new leadership.”
ATI confirmed that a search for her successor is already under way. Innes previously held senior roles in both the civil service and the technology industry before taking charge at ATI.
Staff Unrest and Restructuring
The institute has been in the middle of a major restructuring programme, known as Turing 2.0, designed to focus its research around three areas: health, the environment, and defence and security. But the changes have triggered strong resistance internally.
Last year, staff warned the board that ATI’s credibility was in “serious jeopardy.” More recently, about 50 employees were told their jobs were at risk as part of a redundancy process. Several projects have already been cut, including work on online safety, housing policy, and tackling health inequality.
Background on the Institute
Founded in 2015 and named after mathematician and computing pioneer Alan Turing, the institute was originally created as the UK’s national hub for data science before expanding into artificial intelligence research in 2017.
It employs around 440 people and has worked with universities and partners on projects ranging from improving weather forecasting with the Met Office to developing cardiac “digital twins” to study heart disease and applying AI to air traffic control. Its founding universities included Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, University College London, and Warwick.
Looking Ahead
The resignation of its chief executive adds fresh uncertainty to the institute’s future at a time when government wants to reshape its mission. With staff morale already shaken and funding questions looming, ATI faces pressure to prove it can adapt to new priorities without losing its broader research role.
