Samsung Bets Big On AI, To Create Massive Research Center Cambridge

Artificial intelligence is booming right now as an industry, which is why it’s no surprise that Samsung would be quite interested in trying to get a cut for itself in the budding market. The South Korean smartphone giant is apparently set to build a massive research center in the UK with the specific mandate of researching AI.

The research center will be located in Cambridge, which is a move that was met with quite a bit of enthusiasm by the country’s leaders, the BBC reports. With this new project, Samsung will have a total of three research labs that are dedicated to researching AI, including those found in Russia and Toronto.

Along with the benefit of being located in a major metropolis, another reason for creating an AI research center in the UK is the country’s burgeoning AI scene. London, in particular, is fast becoming a hot spot for AI research with one of the fastest growing concerns being skill shortage.

Samsung revealed that the current goal of the lab is to focus on research that will benefit health and communication fields. However, the company is being exceptionally vague with regards to the specifics of its actual approach.

In any case, it seems Prime Minister Theresa May is particularly glad about this development, The Next Web reports. In a statement, she notes how the new lab will lead to high-paying jobs and the improvement of the UK’s technology sector. Many other of UK’s politicians added their own words of praise of Samsung.

“Today’s announcement by Samsung will create high-paying, high-skilled jobs and our modern Industrial Strategy will encourage further investment like this all around the country,” May said.

“It is a vote of confidence in the UK as a world leader in artificial intelligence, and the new AI research centre will benefit from the world-renowned talent and academic prowess of Cambridge.”