The UK government is launching the Open-Source AI Fellowship, a 12-month initiative that will embed 10 top AI engineers and developers in public sector departments to co-develop practical tools using open-source models. Backed by a $1 million grant from Meta and administered by the Alan Turing Institute, the programme will begin in January 2026.
The Fellowship marks a shift from academic AI research to real-world deployment. Participants will work on projects such as enhancing national security language translation, speeding up housing approvals, and improving public-facing services including “Humphrey,” an AI summarisation assistant, and “Caddy,” a chatbot used by Citizens Advice.
“This is AI in action – open, practical, and built for public good,” said Peter Kyle, Technology Secretary. He emphasised the government's intent to move beyond theory towards deployable tools that improve efficiency and responsiveness. The programme also aims to strengthen the UK’s AI sovereignty by reducing reliance on proprietary US technologies.
Meta’s involvement goes beyond funding. By providing access to its Llama 3.5 model, the company is expanding its collaboration with UK public institutions. Meta stated that only publicly available, adult-only data is used, with users given opt-out options. The company underscored its compliance with UK data protection standards amid ongoing scrutiny of big tech’s role in public infrastructure.
The Fellowship supports broader government efforts, including the forthcoming AI Bill and the work of the AI Safety Institute, which independently assesses AI model safety. However, the participation of firms like Meta and Google continues to raise concerns about corporate influence over national digital policy. Kyle has acknowledged the need for a new kind of diplomacy to manage these complex relationships.
The programme has three main objectives: to foster in-house AI expertise, support talent development through direct government placements, and promote transparency via open-source tools. “Humphrey” and “Caddy” will be expanded and refined, reflecting the government’s preference for practical, user-focused AI applications.
Applications are expected to open in late 2025, with fellows selected by Meta, the Alan Turing Institute and government representatives. The initiative runs in parallel with a separate Google Cloud partnership aiming to train 100,000 civil servants in cloud and AI technologies by 2030.
While the initial funding is modest, the Fellowship is a strategic step towards embedding AI capabilities in government. If successful, it could serve as a model for how to modernise public services with open and trustworthy technology.
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Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the UK government's announcement of the Open-Source AI Fellowship on 11 July 2025. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-best-ai-engineers-can-apply-now-to-build-tech-for-public-services-in-1-million-fellowship?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 11 July 2025. The report is not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. There are no discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes compared to earlier versions. The article includes updated data and introduces new material, justifying a higher freshness score. No similar content has appeared more than 7 days earlier. The update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material. The wording of the quotes matches the original sources. No online matches are found for these quotes, raising the score but flagging them as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable organisations: the UK government and Meta. The UK government's press release is accessible on the official GOV.UK website. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-best-ai-engineers-can-apply-now-to-build-tech-for-public-services-in-1-million-fellowship?utm_source=openai)) Meta's announcement is available on their official newsroom. ([about.fb.com](https://about.fb.com/news/2025/07/meta-backs-1-million-initiative-to-get-uks-best-ai-talent-to-build-tech-for-public-services/?utm_source=openai)) Both sources are credible and authoritative.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the Open-Source AI Fellowship, including the $1 million grant from Meta, the involvement of the Alan Turing Institute, and the use of Meta's Llama 3.5 models, are consistent with information from reputable sources. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-best-ai-engineers-can-apply-now-to-build-tech-for-public-services-in-1-million-fellowship?utm_source=openai)) The narrative aligns with the UK government's AI strategy and Meta's commitment to open-source AI. There are no inconsistencies or implausible elements in the report.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent, originating from reputable sources, and presents plausible claims consistent with known information. There are no significant credibility risks identified.
