AI Safety Institute cofounder fired after election
Institute39;s planned San Francisco office may be culled
1.3 billion pounds of AI investments scrapped

LONDON, Aug 29 Reuters Britains Labour government is drawing up a new, costcutting artificial intelligence strategy ahead of a crunch autumn budget prioritising public sector adoption of the technology over direct investment into industry.

Since taking office in July, Prime Minister Keir Starmer39;s government has been reviewing the costs of AI. It has already scrapped a planned 1.3 billion pounds39; 1.72 billion worth of investment in related technologies drawn up by the previous Conservative government including an 800 million pound investment promised to develop a supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh.

While 1.3 billion pounds is a relatively small sum in the wider AI landscape, Starmer39;s government faced backlash from industry leaders who said it signals that Britain is becoming less interested in supporting innovation.

By comparison France, which is building a reputation as a European hub for generative AI, recently committed 2.5 billion euros 2.77 billion to invest in developing the technology domestically.

The British government is also considering scrapping a planned San Francisco office for its AI Safety Institute, according to one source close to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology DSIT. The office was originally due to open over the summer, and would have seen staff hired…