AI experts from across Europe assembled in new units

Oxford University will be home to one of 17 new ELLIS units, part of a pan-European effort to shape how machine learning and artificial intelligence will change the world. The unit's efforts span from core theoretical underpinnings and methodologies to applications in robotics, finance, health and biology . Made up of researchers from the Departments of Engineering Science, Computer Science and Statistics, the new unit is part of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), a grass-roots initiative to assemble the top European talent in machine learning. Professor Wooldridge from the Department of Computer Science and one of the Oxford unit leaders, said: 'AI and machine learning are major strategic priorities at Oxford, with substantial investment and expansion planned over the coming years. As such, we are delighted to be involved in ELLIS - a major and very welcome initiative that will help consolidate and develop Europe's position in this most important of research areas.' The group today announced the establishment of the first 17 units across 10 European countries and Israel. Built around outstanding AI researchers, the newly-established research units are devoted to tackling fundamental challenges in AI with a focus on research excellence and societal impact. The initiative mobilizes more than €200m in funding across Europe for the next 5 years in a bid to make Europe competitive in modern Artificial Intelligence (AI).