New award launched to recognise advances in artificial intelligence in machines
New award launched to recognise advances in artificial intelligence in machines
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Competition
From Hal 9000 in Kubrik’s Space Odyssey 2001 through to plans for robots that act as domestic servants, artificial intelligence in machines is something that we have always heard about but, it seems to date, with few tangible outcomes and real-world applications. The British Computer Society Specialist Group on Artificial Intelligence (SGAI), in association with the Electrolux Group, is about to change all this with the launch of an annual award to recognise developments in applied machine intelligence. The competition is open to anyone from business or academia who can demonstrate advances that they have achieved in this arena. The winner will be judged from a shortlist at the annual SGAI conference to be held in Cambridge on 11th December 2002.
Professor Max Bramer, chairman of SGAI explains, “As a group we are committed to fostering achievement, capability and awareness of applied artificial intelligence. One of the most effective ways that we can do this is to ensure that progress is showcased and rewarded.” Competitors will be asked to demonstrate their application live in front of delegates at the conference who will then vote on the winner. Judges will be looking for genuine advances, whether large or small, and ideas that will inspire the application of the development in concrete form in the short, medium or long term.
The Electrolux Group already has a significant interest in the application of machine intelligence, for example, earlier this year it launched the world’s first ever robot vacuum cleaner, the Trilobite. Claire Gosnell, corporate communications manager for Electrolux Group in Western Europe elaborates,“The benefits of advances in machine intelligence for us as individuals are huge: for a start, it means we will have to spend less time doing the boring household chores that we all hate, or at least, they can be made easier.”
The winner will receive a prize of £1,000 to support the ongoing development of their idea, as well as a high profile opportunity to tell people about their achievements. There will also be a trophy that the winner will keep for the year.
The competition is also being supported by the Applied Knowledge Research Institute (AKRI).
For further information, contact: www.akri.orgor Kate at AKRI on 01254 677433 or kate@akri.org
