United Kingdom, Sept. 7 -- Dr Jean Innes has resigned as chief executive of the Alan Turing Institute following months of staff unrest and warnings the UK's national centre for artificial intelligence was at risk of collapse.

She had led the institute since July 2023 but her position came under pressure after technology secretary Peter Kyle ordered the institute to refocus its work on defence and warned its government funding could be withdrawn if it did not comply.

The move prompted internal discontent and a whistleblowing complaint to the Charity Commission.

Dr Innes said she was stepping down from the famed institute as it "completes the current transformation programme".

She added the time was right for "new leadership" at the cen...