Artificial intelligence entrepreneurs encouraged to apply for £1m Manchester Prize

The government has launched the Manchester Prize, a £1m award scheme that recognises artificial intelligence innovations that tackle some of society's biggest challenges.

The focus of the initiative's first two years is solutions related to energy, environment and infrastructure such as:

• AI technology to support the transition to electric vehicles by optimising charging methods.

• reducing household energy consumption by using AI to identify targeted interventions like adding insulation.

• helping lower costs for consumers by automating energy-intensive processes in manufacturing.

UK-based companies, non-profits, universities and charities can enter the award with a deadline of 1 February 2024. There are webinars providing information on how to enter.

In April, up to 10 entries will be selected and receive a prize of £100,000 to develop their ideas into a working prototype. An overall winner will get the £1m grand prize.

Judging will be based on the following criteria:

• how innovative the solution is compared to current technology.

• the impact of the solution.

• long-term viability.

• feasibility of delivering a working prototype.

• evidence of safe and ethical AI development.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said:

"Manchester is the birthplace of the world's first modern computer, and has inspired countless innovations in computer science. I hope this prize will in turn inspire the next generation to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges.

"The UK is the leading European tech ecosystem ahead of Germany and France, and with initiatives like this we can cement our position as a science and technology superpower, helping grow our economy.

"The Manchester Prize is an open competition, enabling a much broader community of innovators to enter, and allowing the UK to draw on talent across all sectors. The namesake of the Manchester Prize is the Manchester Baby, the world's first computer with an electronic memory, which was built at the University of Manchester."

Government's approach to artificial intelligence

The government has made several announcements around AI, which it says employs over 50,000 people in the UK and contributed £3.7bn to the economy last year.

A report by Google said the technology could provide a £400bn boost to the UK economy if policies are introduced that enhance research and development and improve digital skills.

Other AI funding launched by the government includes the £100m BridgeAI initiative which focuses on agriculture, creative industries, construction and transport. These are sectors which the government considers as with high potential to benefit from AI.

Critics of AI technologies, that underpin services such as the popular ChatGPT service, say there are risks around human rights, privacy and safety.

In March the government released a whitepaper "to guide the use of artificial intelligence in the UK, to drive responsible innovation and maintain public trust in this revolutionary technology".

At the government's AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in November, 28 countries signed an agreement to establish a shared understanding of the opportunities and risks posed by frontier AI.

Relevant artificial intelligence resources

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