Google and Atos team up to open government-backed London AI lab

Google's Cloud division and digital transformation firm Atos have today launched their first artificial intelligence (AI) innovation lab, in a move backed by UK ministers.

Atos said the London AI lab will bring together experts from across public and private sectors to collaborate on innovation initiatives, with the solutions built there to be made available to businesses and public sector organisations across Europe.

The firm added it hopes the lab will build a new ecosystem of highly-skilled AI workers in London. The lab is the first of three planned locations to be built so far, with Paris and Dallas to be opened in due course.

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The move is part of the UK's industrial strategy to secure the country's reputation as a technological centre.

"The UK is leading the way when it comes to expertise in artificial intelligence, and the new Atos lab will help to develop this exciting area of technology further," said the UK's minister for digital and creative industries Margot James.

"Through our modern Industrial Strategy and near £1bn sector deal, we’re putting AI at the forefront of our plans to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business."