The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) stated that the funding committed by the previous Conservative administration was not included in its budget and hence will not be implemented.
It included £800 million for the University of Edinburgh’s next-generation exascale supercomputer, which can execute one billion billion computations per second, as well as £500 million in additional funding for the AI Research Resource, a project that helps fund computing power for AI.
Some £300 million currently set up for AI Research Resource would be used as planned.
A DSIT spokesman stated, “We are completely committed to developing technology infrastructure that generates growth and opportunity for people across the UK.”
The government is making difficult and essential budget decisions across all ministries in the face of billions of pounds in unfilled commitments.
“This is essential to restore economic stability and deliver our national mission for growth.”
The Labour administration has stated that it will examine future investment in computer infrastructure following the creation of its AI Opportunities Action Plan, which is being overseen by industry expert Matt Clifford.
