Welcome to the second edition of the APRIL AI Hub’s monthly newsletter from our Co-Director, Professor Dame Wendy Hall:
At the core of the APRIL AI Hub is its commitment to its ethos. We believe in developing trusted and responsible research, following sustainability guidelines and legislation, and actively encouraging diversity within our hub and the wider electronics community.
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Prof. Dame Wendy Hall, Co-director
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Our responsible innovation will be supported by this ethos, and we look forward to collaborating with our partners to develop AI that serves the electronics industry and society as a whole. If you’d like to read more about our ethos, have a look at our commitments the APRIL website.
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APRIL’s First Annual Summit
Limited places now remaining
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This December the APRIL AI Hub is delighted to host our First Annual Summit event at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
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APRIL Director, Professor Themis Prodromakis alongside our Pillar Leads, will introduce the Hub to industry partners and stakeholders, and liaise with them to ensure close collaboration with industry from the foundation of our Hub. We are excited to develop strong network links and start supporting the whole supply chain of the electronics industry with our research and innovation.
APRIL AI Hub’s First Annual Summit
📆 When: 4th & 5th December 2024
Where: Edinburgh Futures Institute
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A huge congratulations to our Pillar One Lead, Subramanian Ramamoorthy, on receiving a UKRI Turing AI World Leading Researcher Fellowship. This funding will allow him to set up a new research centre, advancing a bold vision around AI for assistive autonomy. We look forward to seeing more of your remarkable contributions in the field.
Read more about UKRI Turing AI Fellows.
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Hub Manager, Anastasia, attended TED AI Vienna which celebrated ground-breaking ideas at the forefront of AI innovation. TEDAI is an exploration of a shared future that is liberated, not limited by technology.
Anastasia commented: “The energy, the ideas, and the connections were incredible. It wasn’t just about learning the latest in AI—it was about being part of a community that’s passionate about shaping the future together.”
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Hub Manager, Anastasia at Vienna TEDAI
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AI Technology & Standards Summit
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Engagement Officer, Megan, attended the AI Technology & Standards Summit which showcased keynote presentations and panel discussions exploring the ethical implications of AI across a range of industries, imploring the important role of UK and international standards agencies. Speakers demonstrated their expertise, discussing the various challenges currently facing the AI utilising industries.
A key idea that rang through the Summit was that, “AI can only solve a problem if you understand what the problem is”, as stated by Steph Wright of the Scottish AI Alliance.
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The APRIL AI Hub looks forward to future opportunities to further engage with the AI community!
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Team APRIL and the Centre of Electronic Frontiers (CEF) headed over to the Firbush Outdoor Centre in Killin for an unforgettable trip of team-building activities in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Activities included paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, and many more!
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Team APRIL and CEF at Firbush
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Paddle boarding on Loch Tay
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Santhosh, a Pillar 5 Research Fellow, said: "The trip was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen team bonds, foster a culture of collaboration, and spark new ideas. It reinforced the importance of balancing research, innovation, and social well-being in creating a thriving work environment."
We are glad the team had such a productive and bonding experience!
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“From hiking breath-taking trails to team-building water sport activities at Loch Tay, every moment was filled with laughter and adventure.” - Themis, Hub Director
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This November saw the launch of the APRIL book club. The club was hosted by Pillar One researcher, Ben, whose book choice was ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ by Ursula Le Guin.
It was an engaging first meeting, and we have taken feedback from attendees to develop further activities for APRIL staff to engage with and participate in.
Keep an eye out for our December Newsletter for more information on APRIL AI Hub activities.
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