Introduction
Innovate UK BridgeAI is a Innovate UK-funded programme with a mission to drive the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in sectors of the UK economy with a high potential for the growth for AI. By doing so, BridgeAI aims to promote AI-driven productivity and efficiency gains, which will support the UK’s transition to an AI-enabled economy. The priority industries for the programme are transport, construction, agriculture and food processing, and the creative industries.
The programme aims to build meaningful relationships and bridge the gap between developers and end-users, fostering user-driven AI technologies. These relationships will enable knowledge sharing, support the development of new AI solutions to address sector-specific challenges, and address the technical and business skills gaps currently limiting the adoption of AI solutions. Sustainable and responsible AI innovation is also a core focus of the programme.
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Bridge AI’s key mission
BridgeAI is a £100m investment in the UK’s future that will stimulate both AI demand and supply side engagement, develop end-user driven AI technologies and address systemic barriers limiting adoption.
- Boosting UK productivity: BridgeAI aims to stimulate the adoption of AI in priority sectors and regions, creating new opportunities for businesses, jobs and economic growth while driving increased productivity.
- Empowering UK businesses: BridgeAI’s mission is to empower UK businesses operating in sectors with high growth potential for AI; including agriculture, construction, creative, and transport to adopt AI through multi-million-pound funding and support. This will enable businesses to fully realise AI’s potential, resulting in increased productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness.
- Developing end-user-driven AI technologies: BridgeAI aims to bridge the gap between AI developers and end-users by supporting the development of AI technologies that address real-world challenges, improving the user experience and driving innovation in priority sectors.
- Building trust in AI adoption: BridgeAI offers a clear and transparent pathway for businesses to adopt AI solutions with confidence by supporting early consideration of ethical and safety concerns. This not only minimises potential risks but also builds trust with consumers.
- Strengthening AI leadership and expertise: BridgeAI will provide funding and support for training and upskilling in AI, with a focus on enhancing AI leadership and expertise in priority sectors. This aims to improve the absorption of AI, driving competitiveness and business growth beyond just technical capabilities.
- BridgeAI launch event video
As a key partner in BridgeAI, The Alan Turing Institute performs three main functions
- AI independent scientific advice
a. The Turing will provide independent scientific advice to companies encountering challenges associated with AI adoption. BridgeAI participants can collaborate with SMEs to work through their key AI challenges and receive inspiration, mentoring, and bespoke advice. - AI upskilling
a. The Turing harnesses the UK data science and AI community to accelerate the development of AI capabilities in the four target sectors through the delivery of online training tools, advice and bespoke training targeted to the needs of Bridge AI participating organisations.
b. The Turing Way Practitioners Hub is an extension of the Turing Way project that engages and involves industry experts, called Experts in Residence (EiRs), from partnering organisations. This initiative aims to advance their efforts in promoting best practices in data science and AI. The Practitioners Hub serves as a platform for cross-sector collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships, spanning various sectors and data science initiatives, including but not limited to the small and medium-sized (SMEs) enterprises in BridgeAI network. - AI governance expertise, including on policy, regulation, and standards
a. The Turing will also support UK organisations navigating the increasingly complex AI governance landscape. As part of this workstream, the Turing will deliver training opportunities and sector-specific research on some of the most pressing AI governance issues and will engage with regional AI policy stakeholders to help consolidate a nationwide community of actors invested in responsible AI governance.