The University of Warwick secures funding to spearhead a research project on AI

The University of Warwick has secured a portion of £100 million from the UK Government funding for its pioneering new AI research project, ‘AI in the Streets.’ ‘AI in the Streets’ is part of the broader funding initiative announced by the Department for Science, Technology and Innovation, aimed at positioning the UK as a frontrunner in AI research.

The project seeks to explore the connection between ethical AI principles and the practical challenges associated with deploying AI in urban settings.

Leading the ‘AI in the Streets’ project are researchers from the University of Warwick and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Cambridge.

In addition to academic partners, the project involves collaborators such as Careful Industries (London), focusing on the social impact of technology, and Coventry-based artists Talking Birds, who will explore the interactions between individuals and their environment.

Challenges with deploying AI in urban settings Urban streets are increasingly becoming spaces where the public interacts with AI technologies, including autonomous vehicles and surveillance systems.

Despite numerous policy initiatives that advocate for the societal benefits of AI innovations, such as improved safety, inclusivity, and sustainability, the implementation of these technologies often encounters unexpected challenges.

Professor Noortje Marres from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies at the University of Warwick and project lead said: “Our goal is to make visible the messy realities of how AI is experienced in the street, in the form of automated vehicles, facial recognition and AI-based apps.

“We want to use this insight to highlight the specific transformations, benefits, harms, and responsibilities that arise from ‘AI’ in real-world settings, and to communicate these to AI scientists and industry representatives so that they, too, can learn from the street.”

Laying the foundations for AI innovation

The project will work in partnership with local entities and utilise creative strategies to cultivate a collective awareness of the societal impacts of AI among stakeholders and the broader public.

Through joint endeavours, ‘AI in the Streets’ aims to establish a foundation for ethical and inclusive AI advancements in interconnected and automated urban environments.

Engagement from stakeholders

The funding for the project was provided by the AHRC’s Bridging Divides in Responsible AI (BRAID) programme, with additional financial backing from the Monash Warwick Alliance Co-Fund.

The approach of the AI research project has attracted attention from a diverse array of stakeholders, encompassing local and national government bodies, policy innovators, AI experts, industry figures, and researchers from various fields.