UK Government Cuts £1.3 Billion Tech Funding

The UK government has abandoned a £1.3 billion funding package for technology and AI projects, originally pledged by the Conservative administration, which included £800 million for an exascale supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh and £500 million for the AI Research Resource. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) stated that these funds were never allocated in the previous government's budget and cited necessary spending cuts in the face of billions in unfunded commitments. Although £300 million for the AI Research Resource will continue as planned, the decision has raised concerns about the future of the Edinburgh supercomputer and the UK's tech sector. Shadow science secretary Andrew Griffith criticized the Labour government's approach, suggesting it indicates lower ambitions for technology investment. The government plans to develop an AI Opportunities Action Plan, led by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, to explore future investments in compute infrastructure. Questions remain regarding the potential impacts of these funding cuts on research and innovation in the UK tech landscape.