Dr Jean Innes resigns as chief executive of Alan Turing Institute

Following months of staff unrest and warnings the UK’s national centre for artificial intelligence was at risk of collapse, Dr Jean Innes has resigned as chief executive of the Alan Turing Institute.

Dr Jean Innes has resigned as chief executive of the Alan Turing Institute following months of staff unrest and warnings the UK’s national centre for artificial intelligence was at risk of collapse.

She had led the institute since July 2023 but her position came under pressure after technology secretary Peter Kyle ordered the institute to refocus its work on defence and warned its government funding could be withdrawn if it did not comply.

The move prompted internal discontent and a whistleblowing complaint to the Charity Commission.

Dr Innes said she was stepping down from the famed institute as it “completes the current transformation programme”.

She added the time was right for “new leadership” at the centre.

A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “The technology secretary has been clear on the need for the institute to deliver value for money and maximum impact for taxpayers, and we will continue our work to support that ambition.”

Staff who submitted the whistleblowing complaint told the BBC Dr Innes’ departure was only the “first step” in changes for the institute.

They said: “With the rest of our £100 million public funding still at stake, the priority now is to ensure the leadership overhaul that should follow – board and executive alike – can command the confidence of staff, government, regulators and, most importantly, the nation.”

The Alan Turing Institute confirmed its board would appoint a new chief executive to lead “the next phase” of its work, prioritising defence, national security and sovereign capabilities.

Founded in 2015 and based at the British Library in London, the institute has been regarded as the UK’s leading hub for research in AI and data science.

Its previous work covered areas including environmental sustainability, health and responsible AI, but the government now wants defence and security to be its main priority.

In July, Mr Kyle wrote to the institute to insist that strengthening the UK’s AI capacity for military and security use was “critical” and should be at the heart of its activities.

He suggested the leadership team be overhauled to reflect a “renewed purpose”, warning further government investment would depend on delivery of the vision he set out.

The intervention followed prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to increase defence spending to 5 percent of national income by 2035, including expanded investment in military AI.

At the end of 2024, 93 staff members signed a letter expressing no confidence in the institute’s leadership.

A subsequent whistleblowing complaint cited “serious and escalating concerns” after the threat to withdraw funding.

Management later acknowledged recent months had been “challenging”.