AI in flux: leadership shake-ups, risk-aware deployments, and procurement scrutiny

AI headlines are converging on governance, energy, and procurement as the sector wrestles with big questions about leadership, responsibility, and how fast to move.

In the UK, the Alan Turing Institute—long seen as the country’s flagship AI research body—announced that Jean Innes will step down, signaling a “new chapter” after staff protests and calls from its main funder, the government, for strategic overhaul. The leadership change comes after a period of internal friction and public debate about direction and priorities for AI research in Britain.

Beyond this, industry voices are urging caution as banks rush to embrace AI. Hapax CMO Kevin Green argues that smaller banks need tailored AI solutions instead of simply chasing the latest trend, warning that hurried deployment can backfire and leave institutions exposed to operational and reputational risk.

The environmental footprint of AI is also in sharp focus. Google has disclosed the energy costs associated with Gemini, noting that processing a single text prompt can consume energy comparable to nine seconds of watching television. The disclosure adds to the growing conversation about sustainability in AI workflows and data centers.

On the corporate front, AI momentum continues with OpenAI acquiring Statsig for $1.1 billion, a move that signals ambition to scale analytics and power ChatGPT’s growth while bringing new leadership into its expanding portfolio.

Meanwhile in the public sector, Coventry council initiated a review of its £500,000-a-year Palantir contract after protests over Palantir’s links to the Israel Defence Forces. The dispute underscores how procurement choices intersect with geopolitics and data stewardship, especially as Palantir also supports NHS data management and immigration-related operations.

Taken together, these stories suggest AI is at a crossroads: governance and funding models are being tested, deployment strategies are maturing, and the public sector is pushing for greater oversight and ethical considerations in vendor relationships.

Sources:

1. The Guardian: Head of UK’s beleaguered Alan Turing Institute resigns — https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/04/head-of-alan-turing-institute-jean-innes-resigns
2. AI Business: The Hidden Risks of Following Big Banks into AI — https://aibusiness.com/finance/the-hidden-risks-of-following-big-banks-into-ai
3. AI Business: Google Discloses Environmental Impact of Gemini — https://aibusiness.com/google/google-discloses-environmental-impact-of-gemini
4. AI Business: OpenAI Acquires Startup for $1.1B, Hires CEO — https://aibusiness.com/generative-ai/openai-acquires-startup-for-1-1b-hires-ceo
5. The Guardian: Coventry council to review Palantir contract after protests about IDF link — https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/04/coventry-council-review-palantir-contract-protests-israel-defense-forces-link