UCL spinout joins world’s largest advertising group

Technology company Satalia Ltd, a UCL spinout that provides artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to some of the globe's biggest businesses, has been acquired by WPP, the multinational advertising and creative group. The acquisition will see Satalia, whose award-winning AI technology helps optimise business efficiency, join WPP's Wunderman Thompson agency, which provides marketing communications services across the world, including consultancy, creative support and technology. Satalia Ltd is a spinout from UCL Computer Science, founded by Dr Daniel Hulme in 2008, and a global leader in enterprise AI. It is one of the UK's fastest-growing tech companies, whose clients include BT, DFS, DS Smith, PwC, Gigaclear, Tesco and Unilever. It has strong expertise in combining machine learning and business optimisation, from supply chain logistics to human resources. Dr Hulme, who holds a PhD in AI from UCL and is currently the department's Entrepreneur in Residence, will become WPP's Chief AI Officer and will work closely with WPP's Chief Technology Officer and its agencies to promote AI capabilities across the company. Dr Steven Schooling, Director, Engineering and Physical Sciences, UCL Business said: "We are proud to have supported Dr Daniel Hulme and Satalia from the start of their journey when "AI" was not the commonly known term that it is today, through to today's announcement.