Next Generation Artificial Intelligence (AI): Explainable AI
UK Research and Innovation funds bold research to revolutionize explainable AI, supporting disruptive science and new paradigms for transparent, trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 20, 2026 (Full application deadline, 4:00pm UK time)
Funding Amounts: Up to £602,500 FEC per project (UKRI funds 80%, max £482,000); total fund £12,050,000; projects up to 24 months.
Summary: Supports speculative, high-risk research to advance explainable AI, aiming for transformative breakthroughs and to strengthen UK leadership in responsible AI.
Key Information: All applicants must participate in distributed peer review; only two applications per person (one as project lead).
Description
This UKRI opportunity funds ambitious, speculative, and high-risk fundamental research projects intended to deliver a step change in the explainability of future artificial intelligence (AI) systems. As the pilot initiative of the UKRI IS8 AI Programme, it seeks proposals that challenge established paradigms or open new directions in explainable AI, with the goal of supporting the UK's leadership in transparent and responsible AI development. The scheme is particularly aimed at early and mid-career researchers, but is open to all eligible UK-based academics, and encourages interdisciplinary and creative approaches. Projects should be disruptive and transformative, rather than incremental, and may involve new methodologies, frameworks, or fundamental insights into AI explainability.
