The government has announced £32 million in funding for AI-based projects days after it scrapped plans by the Conservatives to spend £1.3 billion on technology initiatives.

The new round of funding will be split between 98 AI projects, with the government saying that over 200 businesses and research projects across the UK will benefit from the cash injection.

The projects look to address a wide range of areas, including making the delivery of prescription medicine more efficient, reducing train delays, and improving safety on construction sites.

The government said that funding will specifically support technology in high growth industries and ensure that AI will facilitate greater productivity and efficiency in key areas of the economy.

Among the projects is V-Lab Ltd, which has received £165,006 to develop AI-powered software to help people train in the construction sector. Its technology provides immersive, scenario-based virtual simulations of real construction sites to efficiently train workers on risk assessments and safety protocols.

The projects are funded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund and will be delivered through the Innovate UK Bridge AI programme, which will provide additional support including access to training and expert AI advice and guidance.

“AI will deliver real change for working people across the UK – not only growing our economy but improving our public services,” said Al Feryal Clark, minister for digital government. “That’s why our support for initiatives like this will be so crucial – backing a range of projects which could reduce train delays, give us new ways of maintaining our vital infrastructure, and improve experiences for patients by making it easier to get their prescriptions to them.”

Earlier this week, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) confirmed that £800 million earmarked for the Edinburgh supercomputer project and £500 million for the AI Research Resource (AIRR) will not be allocated.

The Labour government, which came to power in July, stated that these commitments were not included in the previous government's spending plans.

---