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New research institute for machine learning

Saturday, 9 December 2017

The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide will establish a new multi-million dollar research institute to research the capacity of machines to learn, and to help deliver the so-called fourth industrial revolution for ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.

The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) will help lead South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ through the economic transformation, directly supporting South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n businesses to develop new products based on artificial intelligence and upskilling the workforce of the future.

Machine learning is a field of computer science that gives computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. Some of the applications of machine learning include driverless cars, speech recognition and effective web search. The fourth industrial revolution is described as the range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds.

The establishment of the new Institute will be supported by the South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Government with a $7.1 million investment, including $1.5 million of that prioritised for defence capability research.

The Institute will also support the cost-effective adoption of artificial intelligence by South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n government agencies, providing solutions to improved productivity, efficiency and service delivery for South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ns. It will also attract globally dominant companies to South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ through unique artificial intelligence-based opportunities.

“The Institute will leverage the existing capability of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥’s ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Centre for Visual Technologies – the leading machine learning centre in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, and one of the top ten worldwide,” says Interim Vice-Chancellor of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, Professor Mike Brooks.

“This expertise will assist South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to navigate the changing global economy which is being transformed by artificial intelligence.

“The United States, Canada and the UK have all adopted a national strategy to fast-track the development of an artificial intelligence-enabled economy. China’s President has declared artificial intelligence and machine learning to be a top priority in the years ahead.

“Through the Institute, South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ has the opportunity to lead the nation in the development and implementation of a strategy to create a vibrant ecosystem of high-tech businesses and highly productive workers.”

Director of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Institute for Machine Learning, Professor Anton van den Hengel, says: “Artificial intelligence is projected to contribute up to US$15.7 trillion to the global economy in 2030, more than the current output of China and India combined.

“The impact on productivity will be transformative – and we will be working closely with South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n businesses to give them a global competitive advantage in being able to adapt to a world powered by artificial intelligence.”

The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Institute for Machine Learning will be the lead tenant in a new innovation incubator to be established in the Women’s Health Centre building on the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site.

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