The United Kingdom’s principal public research funding agency, “UK Research and Innovation” (UKRI), has published its first-ever national Artificial Intelligence Strategy, marking a major push to make AI central to scientific progress, public services, and economic growth. The strategy outlines priorities such as explainable AI, human-in-the-loop systems, agentic AI, edge computing, and sustainable AI technologies — areas where the UK believes it can lead globally. UKRI has pledged a record £1.6 billion in targeted funding for AI research and innovation between 2026 and 2030, alongside parallel investment in mathematics, engineering and computer science, which underpin AI development — signalling a broadening of AI from research labs into real-world applications like healthcare diagnostics, energy systems, and public service improvements.
