UK government invests £13M in 40 AI and data analytics projects

The UK government will invest some £13 million in 40 projects involving artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics in an attempt to boost the UK accountancy, insurance and legal services industries.

One of the projects will develop breakthrough artificial intelligence technology for the anti-fraud sector. Intelligent Voice, Strenuus and the University of East London will combine AI and voice recognition technology to detect and interpret emotion and linguistics to assess the credibility of insurance claims. Insurance fraud cost the UK £3 billion in 2017, equating to £10,400 per fraudulent claim, and costing consumers an extra £50 per policy.

Other examples include: an online “bot” which will use artificial intelligence to provide quick answers to legal questions online; an analysis tool which looks at images collected by drones to assess flood-damaged areas, using a 3D image recognition system to evaluate flood extent and depth alongside impacts on buildings and infrastructure to help with insurance claim assessments; and artificial intelligence software that will analyse accounting data and suggest ways for businesses to cut expenditure, suggesting new deals on gas, water and electricity bills.

The projects are part of the Next Generation Services Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. This is a £20 million fund, administered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to support the development and adoption of AI and Data technologies that will transform the UK’s services industries.

UK business secretary Greg Clark said: “Artificial intelligence and data are transforming industries across the world. We are combining our unique heritage in AI with our world beating professional services to put the UK at the forefront of these cutting-edge technologies and their application.

“We want to ensure businesses and consumers benefit from the application of AI - from providing quicker access to legal advice for customers, to tackling fraudulent insurance claims, these projects illustrate our modern Industrial Strategy in action. We’re investing record levels in research and development so that every part of the UK can benefit from the industries and high-skilled jobs of the future.”

UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive, Professor Sir Mark Walport, said: “The service industry around the world is being transformed by information technology. The Next Generation Services Challenge offers important opportunities for transformation of the legal, insurance and accountancy sectors across the UK.

“Through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund we are building on UK expertise in artificial intelligence and data science to deliver benefits that will be felt in the services sector and beyond.”