Creative Machine Learning

Research, Skills, Innovation Shaping the Future of AI

The UCL Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI Centre) sits at the heart of UCL’s AI Strategy “For People and Planet”. Whilst there has been dramatic progress in AI, these systems are still far from being universally useful. Current AI systems have only a limited ability to comprehend the world around them and interact with us in meaningful ways.

For example, machines can now accurately Making advances in AI would enable transcribe human speech into a textual machines to carry out a variety of repetitive representation; however, the machine tasks, thereby freeing humanity to spend doesn’t really know how to interpret the more time on activities such as supporting meaning of that representation. Similarly, empathy, morality, creativity, humour, machines can visually see objects, but the entertainment, pleasure, family, exercise, As we transition to a more automated AI has profound ethical and societal significance and utility of those objects is culture, education, health, science and society, the core aim of the Centre is to implications. UCL is continually aware largely unknown to the machine. Computers environment and ecosystem protection. create new AI technologies and advise of its responsibilities and leads on the can now easily beat humans at chess, but Used responsibly, AI has the capability to on the use of AI in science, industry and sustainable development and fair usage robots still struggle to pick up a chess piece improve the quality of life for all and support, society. The Centre brings together of AI. At an institutional level, UCL is and move it gracefully on the chess board. not harm, life on the planet. researchers with a shared interest in a member of the Partnership On AI, Loosely speaking, AI systems can perceive, fundamental challenges in Machine Vision, a multi-stakeholder organisation that but they struggle to reason about and Machine Learning, Machine Reading, brings together academics, researchers, interact with their environment. Machine Action, Interpretation and civil societies and companies building Knowledge Representation. The Centre and utilising AI technology to better takes inspiration from the vast array of understand AI’s impacts. applications across UCL and acts as the engine of methodological progress.

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UCL is one of the leading UCL has a proud history This award of £6.7 million has been The AI Centre both feeds Of particular interest to us is the creation doubled by the generous support of our and support of companies that introduce AI research institutions in in AI education. More Masters industry partners who share our vision to in to and is supported by one new AI algorithms exceeding previous the world, with the AI Centre students have been trained in train a new generation of students driven of Europe’s most vibrant tech capabilities. Such companies will benefit being at the heart of UCL’s AI at UCL in the last 10 years by a passion to make progress in AI and sectors. Members of the AI from our deep technical expertise and we turn this into a positive impact for People believe are most likely to shape the future efforts. Making next than any other university in and Planet. The CDT is hosted at the AI Centre have made some of economic and societal landscape. generation AI machines is the country. Centre and will train over 70 PhD students the most successful AI an exciting grand challenge in Foundational AI over the next 8 years. startups in recent times The Centre runs PhD and Masters We will take mathematically gifted that will require a range of programmes in Machine Learning and and the Centre aims to help students and train them to be leading AI related topics in AI, with over 150 students collaborative advances. researchers. A unique aspect of the CDT create more by supporting from around the world graduating each is its remit to also equip PhD students with Centre staff and students year. Our view that is that understanding the skills to form AI startup companies Bringing leading research talent together, Inspiration may come from different areas the scientific and mathematical principles through entrepreneurship based on their deep technical expertise. we work on joint projects to drive progress. including neuroscience and psychology. behind AI is important. Rather than just The CDT will thus address the national training and hosting industry Beyond a purely implementation view, As these systems are deployed in the demonstrating how to use existing AI tools need for AI workers by training researchers we take a principled approach to try to everyday world, input from the social sciences we train all students to have the capability events at the Centre. capable of advancing core AI algorithms. understand how to efficiently train is vital to make fair and transparent AI to create new AI algorithms. This enables These graduates will help shape the social, machines and interpret their capabilities systems. To achieve this the Centre leads students to have a depth of understanding scientific and economic landscape through and performance. The Centre’s approach national and international AI research to lead others and make bespoke scientific breakthroughs and the creation to creating efficient and effective AI is projects, organises seminar series and solutions to complex challenges. of companies on the basis of novel inclusive, encompassing a variety of hosts research visitors. The UK recognises UCL’s expertise in AI technology. mathematical, computational, statistical AI training and recently awarded us the and engineering approaches. UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Foundational Artificial Intelligence.

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The AI Centre has a clear vision for research, skills and innovation which is continually informed through discussion with academics, students, government and industry. Ultimately the Centre is not for us, it is for you – the public and society that we serve.

We are delighted by the support received Innovation training is kindly supported by UCL is a world leading AI institution across research, for our vision of open, collaborative research Albion Capital, Capital Enterprise, SCM and training, partnering with some of the Advisors, CognitionX and Entrepreneur First. skills and innovation. We’ve created an environment that most forward thinking organisations in The Centre is also supported by Digital fosters students and researchers to think about the bigger the world. Our founding partners Cisco, Catapult in interfacing with industry and picture with confidence and respect, with a vision for a Google DeepMind and Adobe have been has received generous computing support instrumental in creating the Centre, helping from local companies including Novatech. better future and the tools to make it happen. However, this shape our vision of progressive research and is just the beginning and we need your support to expand training from Masters students through to on our success and help make AI a positive reality for all. PhDs and established researchers. We are grateful to many other generous supporters, including Facebook, Microsoft, Nvidia, Accenture, Vodafone, Huawei, Niantic, Faculty, BenevolentAI, Digital Surgery, Dynium, OSIC, Intuitive and Julia Computing. We are delighted to invite you to engage with With all these contributions, we are able to the AI Centre, through academic or industry offer much more, from increased support partnerships, training, research and education. for diversity and training to understanding Please contact us at: [email protected] how and where our research efforts can have the most impact.

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UCL Centre for Artificial Intelligence E: [email protected] ucl.ac.uk/ai-centre