AI competition is launched by BT

BOROUGH businesses with expertise in AI could be candidates to triumph in a forward-thinking competition launched by BT in partnership with the Cabinet Office and TechHub.

Judges want to find the latest innovations to boost digital public services, defence and retail, utilising both augmented technology and expert manpower.

Small and medium sized local businesses with expertise in machine learning, robotics and artificial intelligence can apply.

The three categories could lend themselves to “man and machine” ventures which help provide extra insight to military planning for operations, humanitarian missions or disaster relief, or utilisation of robotics to improve customer experience while shopping or when contacting a public service.

The UK-wide initiative is the latest in a series of BT Infinity Lab competitions, with £30,000 to share between three winners, as well as a six month window to develop the ideas with the support of experts from BT and a subscription to TechHub’s global entrepreneur community, workspace and support programme.

Firms need to submit a three minute video explaining why their solution could be the next big tech innovation. Entries close on March 12. The winners will be announced on April 24.

To find out more, visit: www.btplc.com/btinfinitylab/augmentedintelligence

Colm O’Neill, from BT, said: “Last year, our research found that AI had divided the opinions of IT decision makers over whether it would replace or create jobs.

“With that in mind, we launched this year’s Infinity Labs competition with the theme ‘Augmented Intelligence,’ as we believe that there’s still work to do to demonstrate that automated technologies and business processes can play to the strengths of both people and machines.”