Bakers, farmers and road workers will carry out tests. artificial intelligence (AI) that could boost productivity with new multibillion-dollar fund.
The UK government will invest £7 million in artificial intelligence projects aimed at helping small businesses “reduce waste, move faster and be more productive”, technology secretary Peter Kyle said.
A total of 120 projects across the country will receive a portion of the funding to test AI systems.
The fund forms part of the Labor government’s plan to unlock the potential of cutting-edge technology in the UK, which is the leading European destination for AI companies.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed his government’s plan for AI to “transform the lives of workers.”
the plan outlined a series of measures that will see the rapid deployment of AI across British society, including new AI growth zones that will speed up planning permission for AI infrastructure and make it easier to connect to the grid.
Kyle added: “The huge variety of projects receiving funding today, from farmers and bakers to those tackling potholes on our roads and mold on residential properties, demonstrates the truly limitless benefits of AI that are there to be harnessed. .
“And we will, with our 50-point AI Opportunities Plan, published yesterday, to unleash AI across the UK, delivering a decade of national renewal and driving forward our Plan for Change.”
Projects will look at how AI could reduce food waste by allowing bakeries to accurately predict sales, as well as how it could predict potholes before they form, allowing for cheaper road repairs.
Another project will also look at how technology could help determine where mold It is likely to increase in buildings, a health problem affecting a large proportion of households north of the border.
The most recent survey into housing conditions in Scotland by the Scottish Government revealed that almost one in 10 homes suffer from mould.
The funding is part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Technology Missions Fund, and support is provided by the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme.
Launched in 2023, the BridgeAI program was designed to help companies in sectors with high growth potential, such as agriculture and construction, adopt innovative technology.