Some of my first work (as a very junior programmer and researcher) in the UK was in part funded and instantiated in the reaction to the 5th generation initiativ

Some of my first work (as a very junior programmer and researcher) in the UK was in part funded and instantiated in the reaction to the 5th generation initiatives. The research community in the UK reacted to what was called "the Alvey report". It led to an explosion of inter uni collaborative projects, the newer GEC 400 (?) Series computer was often deployed in this work. I think it wound up almost exclusively in defence deployment like AWACS roles in the nimrod project. It had a bit of an overheating problem and led to many fine "halt and catch fire instruction" jokes. The idea that both the 5th generation projects in Japan would work and that without the alvey projects we'd somehow "lose the race" was compelling pressure to seek funds and do things. It didn't turn out that way.