"ML Gotcha” - heroic stories from deploying commercial machine learning applications

Brought to you by The Artificial Intelligence Group

The CW Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group is curating a regular series of shorter “byte-sized” events typically during the early evening. These informal events will have just one or two talks, along with audience Q&A and maximised networking time.

Registration for this event is now closed.

About the event

This first byte sized event on February 15th at the Bradfield Centre will cover real world examples of deploying commercial machine learning; examining the user experience aspects of AI, as well as exploring closed source tools.   

With AI in the news almost every day now, there is an urgent need for us all to become better informed, and to be able to separate the hype from reality for the benefit of the businesses we represent.

We are delighted to announce our speakers for this event are:

Chatbots? garbage in garbage out.
Leo Poll, Akendi
The last 5 years have been nothing short of a revolution in speech, natural language interpretation and AI. All the tools are there (e.g. IBM Watson) to get a chatbot up and running quickly. However, embedding common sense as well as some form of social skills to a chatbot is not a quick and easy job. During this talk Leo Poll will share Akendi's experience with developing a chatbot that was intended to be a more accessible alternative to our FAQ's on our website (which nobody reads). The internal code name for this project was 'Botterik' which is Dutch for somebody who is a bit short and rude. Ensuring that Akendi's chatbot no longer deserved this nickname is not an easy and quick job despite the effectiveness of the AI toolkit.

Where can I park my car?
Mary-Ann Claridge, Founder & Lead Data Scientist, Mandrel Systems, supported by Phil Claridge, Mandrel Systems
Real world end-to-end examples of machine learning using Smart City data. We will demonstrate where you might want to try and park your car in Cambridge. From raw data to working application in under 20 min?  As part of the demonstration we will discuss major issues we find in introducing AI and ML to commercial consulting customers. This session is a counterpoint to the previous AI/Open source SIG event as some of the tools showcased will be closed source (free to use) that have significant consulting revenue opportunity.

You can follow @CambWireless on Twitter and tweet about this event using #AIByteSize.

Hosted by The Bradfield Centre

The Bradfield Centre is the premier Tech Hub serving the Cambridge technology cluster and the wider East of England region.

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Sponsored by GeoSpock

Extreme-scale spatial big data platform company that provides analytics, visualisation & builds insight.

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Agenda

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The information supplied below may be subject to change before the event.

17:30

Registration

18:00

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence SIG

Bob Driver, Chief Executive Officer, CW (Cambridge Wireless)

18:10

Welcome from sponsor: GeoSpock

Founder and CTO of GeoSpock, Dr Steve Marsh

18:20

Chatbots? garbage in garbage out

Leo Poll, President, Akendi

The last 5 years have been nothing short of a revolution in speech, natural language interpretation and AI. All the tools are there (e.g. IBM Watson) to get a chatbot up and running quickly. However, embedding common sense as well as some form of social skills to a chatbot is not a quick and easy job. During this talk Leo Poll will share Akendi's experience with developing a chatbot that was intended to be a more accessible alternative to our FAQ's on our website (which nobody reads). The internal code name for this project was 'Botterik' which is Dutch for somebody who is a bit short and rude. Ensuring that Akendi's chatbot no longer deserved this nickname is not an easy and quick job despite the effectiveness of the AI toolkit.

18:50

Q & A

18:55

‘Where can I park my car?’

Mary-Ann Claridge, Founder & Lead Data Scientist, Mandrel Systems, supported by Phil Claridge, Mandrel Systems

Real world end-to-end examples of machine learning using Smart City data. We will demonstrate where you might want to try and park your car in Cambridge. From raw data to working application in under 20 min? As part of the demonstration we will discuss major issues we find in introducing AI and ML to commercial consulting customers. This session is a counterpoint to the previous AI/Open source SIG event as some of the tools showcased will be closed source (free to use) that have significant consulting revenue opportunity.

19:25

Q & A

19:30

Panel Q&A with all speakers

19:45

Refreshments and networking

20:45

Event closes

Speakers

Phil Claridge - Founder, Mandrel Systems

Phil Claridge is a ‘virtual CTO’ for hire within Mandrel Systems covering end-to-end systems. Currently having fun and helping others with large-scale AI systems integration, country-wide large scale big-data processing, hands-on IoT technology (from sensor hardware design, through LoRa integration to back end systems), and advanced city information modelling. Supporting companies with M&A ‘exit readiness’, due-diligence and on advisory boards. Past roles include: CTO, Chief Architect, Labs Director, and Technical Evangelist for Geneva/Convergys (telco), Arieso/Viavi (geolocation), and Madge (networking). Phil’s early career was in electronics, and still finds it irresistible to swap from Powerpoint to a soldering iron and a compiler to produce proof-of-concepts when required.

Mary-Ann Claridge - Founder, Mandrel Systems

Mary-Ann is the Lead data scientist at Mandrel Systems. She started her career with research into sonar (think Hunt for Red October without Sean Connery). She is now embracing application and technical domains including education (all the analysis, modelling and visualisation for BestCourse4Me), smart city, retail, voice and speech recognition, and financial and logistical optimisation.

Leo Poll - Director, Keen Design

Technically everything is possible, making it work for people is where the real challenges are. Addressing these challenges from an end-user perspective in a way that makes business sense is what drives Leo. With more than 20 years of experience in Innovation driven Experience Research and Design he is able to bring an ability of strong lateral thinking combined with broad domain knowledge of applications/markets and technical enablers. Previous to his role at Akendi, Leo worked for the mobile phone division of Philips in Le Mans, France, managed numerous international projects whilst employed by Philips Electronics UK, was a member of the global 'Connectivity Programme' board of Philips Research, (Co-)founded Ryppel Ltd, Eversfield Innovation Ltd, Galileo Software Adviesbureau v.o.f.

SIG Champions

Darendra Appanah - Senior Test Engineer, Cambridge Consultants

Darendra is part of the Systems Engineering & Test department, where he applies his expertise in Digital Security Testing to various technologies, including Machine Learning and AI. He has a background in Software Test Automation of wireless communications protocols, such as satellite communications and LTE. He enjoys defining and developing testing strategies for cybersecurity challenges and ensuring the quality and reliability of innovative solutions.

Maria Axente - Head of AI Public Policy & Ethics, PwC UK

Maria is a globally recognised, award-winning AI ethics public policy expert, a member of various Advisory Boards - UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI (APPG AI), NATO EDT & SKEMA AI Institute, and Chair of techUK Data and AI leadership committee. In her current role as Head of AI Public Policy and Ethics, she aligns PwC's AI strategies with ethical considerations and regulatory trends, fostering collaboration with external stakeholders and leading PwC's responses to public policy consultations and initiatives. Maria's commitment to responsible AI has made her a recognised thought leader and influencer in the field. Maria is a passionate advocate for children's rights in the age of AI, serving as a member of the Advisory Board for UNICEF #AI4Children and World Economic Forum Generation AI programmes. She also serves as an Intellectual Forum Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge researching human-centric AI and the intersection between tech policy and ethics.

Phil Claridge - Founder, Mandrel Systems

Phil Claridge is a ‘virtual CTO’ for hire within Mandrel Systems covering end-to-end systems. Currently having fun and helping others with large-scale AI systems integration, country-wide large scale big-data processing, hands-on IoT technology (from sensor hardware design, through LoRa integration to back end systems), and advanced city information modelling. Supporting companies with M&A ‘exit readiness’, due-diligence and on advisory boards. Past roles include: CTO, Chief Architect, Labs Director, and Technical Evangelist for Geneva/Convergys (telco), Arieso/Viavi (geolocation), and Madge (networking). Phil’s early career was in electronics, and still finds it irresistible to swap from Powerpoint to a soldering iron and a compiler to produce proof-of-concepts when required.

Parminder Lally - Partner, Appleyard Lees IP LLP

Parminder is a patent attorney based in Appleyard Lees’ Cambridge office, and helps companies to protect their technological innovations. She has built a substantial reputation working with high-growth start-ups, spin-outs and SMEs in Cambridge, and has in-house experience. She specialises in writing and prosecuting patent applications for computer-implemented inventions. Her work includes patenting AI-based technologies, including new machine learning frameworks and applications of machine learning in image classification, human-computer interactions and text-to-speech. Parminder also writes her own AI blog on LinkedIn, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys’ Computer Technology Committee.

Simon Thompson - Head of AI, ML & Data Science, GFT Financial Ltd

Simon leads a team that develops AI and ML solutions for large financial institutions. Before joining GFT he was the Principal Investigator for BT’s AI program. Before that he was the Head of Practice for Big Data and Customer Experience at BT and BT’s lead for collaborations with MIT, and the first industry fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. Simon is interested in practical application of AI technology and the practice and process of AI and ML projects. His book “Managing Machine Learning Projects” was published by Manning Books in 2023.

Peter Whale - Founder & CEO, Vision Formers

Peter is Founder & CEO of Vision Formers, the specialist consultancy that supports and mentors leaders of visionary technology businesses get product to market and turn ideas into reality.

Vision Formers works with start-ups and scale-ups, providing significant expertise in accelerating business growth through a focus on developing a robust product strategy, growing and coaching product and development teams, and providing operational excellence. Peter has a long track record of conceiving, developing and marketing successful technology-based solutions, deployed at scale, globally. Innovative products Peter has brought to market in digital, cloud, AI, consumer electronics and telecommunications have been used by countless millions of people on a daily basis globally, badged by the world’s leading digital and technology brands.

Peter also works with Digital Catapult as Programme Manager for UKTIN, working with partners and stakeholders to deliver UKTIN’s mission to transform the UK telecoms innovation ecosystem, capitalising on the country’s strengths in technology, academia, and entrepreneurialism, while positioning it for growth as new opportunities emerge in the industry.

Peter is a board member of CW (Cambridge Wireless), a Fellow of the IET, a Chartered Engineer, and a member of the Association of Business Mentors.

Event Location

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Location info

The Bradfield Centre, 184 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0GA

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