TL;DR:
- The AI Summit London showcases AI technologies from industry leaders and provides a platform for student innovators.
- University students compete in a live hackathon to demonstrate their AI and data science skills.
- The hackathon is supported by Natwest and Google Developers Student Clubs.
- Students tackle a challenge related to a Sustainable Development Goal, focusing on clean and affordable energy access.
- They use publicly available data sets to identify optimal locations for renewable energy plants.
- Google’s TensorFlow machine learning platform is employed to solve the challenge.
- Mentors from Spotify, easyJet, Google, and Charles River Laboratories provide guidance.
- The event promotes collaboration and innovation in the field of AI and machine learning.
Main AI News:
The AI Summit London is back, bringing together visionaries who harness the power of AI across various industries. This year’s event showcases cutting-edge technologies presented by industry giants like Google, Accenture, Microsoft, IBM, and Fujitsu, among others. However, it is not just about established players; the summit also shines a spotlight on aspiring innovators in the early stages of their careers. A special live hackathon gives university students an opportunity to put their skills to the test and demonstrate their potential.
The hackathon is open to students from any U.K. university, regardless of their level of study, whether they are pursuing an undergraduate, master’s, or Ph.D. degree with a keen interest in AI and data science. In partnership with Natwest and Google Developers Student Clubs, the hackathon takes place over two days, from Wednesday to Thursday, with competing teams racing against the clock to complete a challenge within a strict eight-hour timeframe. The winner will be announced on Thursday, marking the summit’s second and final day.
Similar to last year, participating students are tasked with solving a challenge tied to a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). This year’s goal revolves around ensuring access to clean and affordable energy, a pressing issue in today’s world. Anuj Agarwal, Natwest data engineer and speaker, explains the motivation behind this particular challenge, stating, “The challenge we picked was related to climate because it’s something that is having such a significant impact on our world. There’s a very structured way of thinking in a corporate environment, and having students come in from all different areas is amazing for getting new ideas on how to solve these real-world challenges.”
To assist them in their endeavor, students are provided with various publicly available datasets on emission ratios, the distribution of renewable energy resources, and countries’ current renewable energy portfolios. Using this information, they must identify optimal locations worldwide for setting up renewable energy plants, taking into account both commercial viability and environmental benefits. Agarwal emphasizes the importance of generating insights from the given data, stating, “Participants will need to generate insights from the data given. With AI, intelligence comes first, but then you need to bring in a model to scale it up. Without this, you would have just the output without outcome.”
To tackle this challenge, students make use of Google’s TensorFlow machine learning platform, with support from Google data scientists who are on hand to provide guidance. Luis Gustavo Martins, a developer advocate from Google, expresses his enthusiasm for empowering students with AI technology, saying, “I’m here to help the students use Google’s AI tech in the best way possible. Helping a student learn about this technology is a huge win for us because we’re at the forefront of helping create a new workforce. AI isn’t the next big thing, it’s already the big thing, and students should be learning about this and know what’s going on when they enter the workforce.”
The event also features notable speakers and mentors from Spotify, easyJet, Google, and Charles River Laboratories, offering invaluable insights and guidance to the participating students. Their collective expertise and support contribute to the overall success of the hackathon and ensure a rich learning experience for the talented individuals striving to make a difference in the field of AI and machine learning.
Conclusion:
The hackathon at the AI Summit London serves as a testament to the growing talent pool of students in AI and machine learning. By providing a platform for these emerging innovators, the market can witness fresh ideas and approaches to solving real-world challenges. The involvement of industry giants like Google, Accenture, and IBM showcases the significance of AI in various industries. Moreover, the focus on Sustainable Development Goals demonstrates the industry’s commitment to addressing pressing global issues. The event not only fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing but also contributes to the development of a skilled workforce equipped to tackle the evolving demands of the market.
