£100m boost in AI research will propel transformative innovations

Nine new research hubs located across the UK will deliver revolutionary AI technologies while a further 10 scoping studies will help to define responsible AI.

Nine new artificial intelligence (AI) research hubs that will deliver next-generation innovations and technologies have been announced today. The hubs will provide focused investment that will enable AI to evolve and tackle complex problems across applications from healthcare treatments to power-efficient electronics.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has invested £80 million in the new hubs that will propel the UK to the forefront of advanced AI research. From combating cyber threats, to supporting better health treatments and delivering faster development of electronic devices and microchips, the research aims to transform the way we develop and use AI.

Increasing our understanding of AI systems
Three of the hubs will address the mathematics and computational research, which is foundational to AI, playing a pivotal role in increasing our understanding of new, efficient AI systems. Six of the hubs will explore AI for science, engineering and real-world data, which will provide the tools needed to accelerate future AI innovations and advance its application in key areas such as healthcare.

A further ten scoping studies have been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), also part of UKRI. The studies will help to define responsible AI across education, policing and the creative industries.

Today’s announcement comes on the same day that the government has published its AI regulation white paper consultation response, which carves out the UK’s own approach to regulation.

Next wave of brilliant AI innovation
Minister for AI Viscount Camrose, said:

The investment we’re pouring into these new projects is only possible as a result of our pro-innovation approach to AI. The AI Regulation White Paper consultation response we’ve set out today will see us forging ahead with that plan, driving forward the next wave of brilliant AI innovations.

These hubs will nurture new, cutting-edge breakthroughs, from healthcare treatments and more power efficient electronics to machine learning and chemical discovery.

New projects being delivered by BRAID will also help to define responsible AI in key sectors such as education, policing, and the creative industries, ensuring public trust in the technology as we continue to harness its transformative capabilities.

Accelerating the adoption of trusted and responsible AI

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UKRI, said:

UKRI is supporting researchers and innovators to develop the next generation of AI technologies that will transform our economy and society. The investments announced today will help to deliver the capability the UK needs to realise the opportunities of this transformative technology. Through our £1bn portfolio of investments in AI research and innovation, we are supporting the development of new technologies, boosting skills, and accelerating the adoption of trusted and responsible AI.

The hubs, led by eight universities but working across the whole of the UK, underline the UK’s commitment to maintaining a leadership position in AI research, innovation and ethical deployment.

Delivering revolutionary AI innovations

Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of EPSRC, said:

Artificial intelligence is already transforming our world. EPSRC supports world-leading research to unlock its potential and ensure it is developed and used in an ethical and responsible way. Long-term research funding has led to revolutionary advancements that have made AI a powerful tool for many applications. These hubs will deliver revolutionary AI innovations and tools in sectors from healthcare to energy, smart cities and environment. They will achieve this by solving key challenges and improving our understanding of AI helping to drive the increased productivity and economic growth promised by this technology.

The investment today follows an announcement during autumn 2023 for 12 UKRI AI Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs). The UKRI AI CDTs will ensure that the UK has the skills needed to:

• seize the potential of the AI era
• nurture the British tech talent that will push the AI revolution forwards
• Responsible AI across education, policing and the creative industries
• Also announced today are 10 six-month scoping projects that will define what responsible AI is across sectors such as education, policing and the creative industries.

The projects are supported with £2 million AHRC funding through the Bridging Responsible AI Divides (BRAID) programme. They will produce early-stage research and recommendations to inform future work in this area. They illustrate how the UK is at the forefront of defining responsible AI and exploring how it can be embedded across key sectors. In addition to the scoping projects AHRC is confirming a further £7.6 million to fund a second phase of the BRAID programme, extending activities to 2027 and 2028.

The next phase will include a new cohort of large-scale demonstrator projects, further rounds of BRAID fellowships, and new professional AI skills provisions, co-developed with industry and other partners.

International collaboration
Also announced today, a £9 million investment delivered by EPSRC through the International Science Partnerships Fund. This new investment will bring together researchers and innovators in bilateral research partnerships with the US focused on developing safer, responsible, and trustworthy AI as well as AI for scientific uses. The research will examine new methodologies for responsible AI development and use. Developing common understanding of technology development between nations will enhance inputs to international governance of AI and help shape research inputs to domestic policymakers and regulators.

Providing lasting contributions
Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of AHRC and UKRI International Champion said:

The impact of AI can already be felt in many areas of our lives. It will transform our jobs and livelihoods, and impact on areas as diverse as education, policing and the creative industries, and much more besides. UKRI’s research will be at the heart of understanding this new world. The research which AHRC announced today will provide lasting contributions to the definition and practice of responsible AI, informing the practice and tools that are crucial to ensure this transformative technology provides benefits for all of society. The new bilateral EPSRC partnership programme between the UK and US, also announced today, highlights the vital role of international collaboration in all areas of research and innovation, not least AI. It ensures we share expertise and learn from each other to develop ways to harness the extraordinary potential of AI safely and fairly for citizens around the world. These projects are vital and timely interventions from across the research ecosystem to support responsible, safe and beneficial uses of the transformative power of AI.