The Alan Turing Institute, a government-backed data science and artificial intelligence research organisation, has commissioned a former RAF senior officer to work with it as it moves towards a focus on defence and national security.
Former RAF Air Commodore Blythe Crawford will work with the group to “explore how the institute can best support the scale of government AI ambitions in defence, national security and intelligence”.
Crawford, who recently served as a commander of the Air & Space Warfare Centre, will develop recommendations for the board of directors at the institute alongside a group of defence and security experts.
“Turing has made major changes to transform into an institute that’s tightly focused on adding unique value for the UK, making a clear step up on our work in defence and national security and tackling pressing challenges in environment and health,” said Dr Doug Gurr, chair of the Alan Turing Institute.
“I’m hugely excited to see what the Turing will achieve over the coming years, putting digital, data, and AI science and technologies to work for the benefit of all UK citizens.”
The appointment follows pressure from the government for the institute to shift its focus towards defence and security.
Peter Kyle, the former UK technology secretary and current business secretary, wrote to the organisation earlier this year demanding change.
“Moving forward, defence and national security projects should form a core of Alan Turing Institute’s activities, and relationships with the UK’s security, defence, and intelligence communities should be strengthened accordingly,” Kyle wrote.
Former Alan Turing Institute chief executive Dr Jean Innes resigned from the group months after the letter.
