UK launches $143 million AI skills package, with new visa scheme

The UK government has announced a £118 million ($143 million) skills package to help ensure the country has “top global expertise” for future AI research and development. 

The money will fund 12 Centres for Doctoral Training in AI — backed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a government agency — to train a new generation of researchers in the field of AI, with a course designed to ensure every student is trained in responsible, trustworthy, and safe AI while specializing in areas of priority for the UK, such as healthcare.

The government will also be launching a new visa scheme that it says will make it easier for “the most innovative businesses” to bring AI researchers at the early stages of their career to the UK, in addition to the creation of a £1 million AI Futures Grants scheme to help AI workers meet the costs of relocating to the UK. This will support emerging AI researchers and engineers from around the world to work at British universities, businesses and research institutes, the government said.

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