PwC teams with University of Bath to boost next generation of AI talent

As part of a new collaboration between the Government and industry leaders of the UK, PwC has announced a new partnership with the University of Bath. The alliance will see the Big Four firm offer research internships to PhD students, while striving to boost the Artificial Intelligence skills of tomorrow’s workforce.

The UK Government has unveiled a new collaboration between the state and industry to drive skills relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to new heights. A new post-graduate AI drive to boost productivity and create high skilled jobs will now form part of the UK’s modern industrial strategy. As part of this, new industry-funded Master Degrees in AI will be rolled out across 16 dedicated Centres in UK universities to train a new generation of AI PhDs.

The move is part of the UK’s efforts to insulate its economy from the impacts of Brexit. With the country facing an impending exodus from its financial services sector in particular, fostering innovation is increasingly seen as the best way to ensure that Britain avoids a severe fall in growth in the next few years. AI in particular offers opportunities for the economy, with the potential to boost UK GDP by 10% by 2030. As a result, inward investment to the UK AI sector already increased by 17% over the past year, more than the whole of Europe combined, by the Government’s reckoning.

As part of this latest initiative to drive up AI skills, the British wing of PwC has partnered with the University of Bath's new Centre for Doctoral Training in Accountable, Responsible and Transparent AI. As part of the agreement, PwC will offer project-based research internships to PhD students, act as an industrial student adviser, and join the strategy and partnerships board of the CDT.

Euan Cameron, UK AI leader at PwC, commented, "To unlock the technology's potential, we need a robust and consistent approach to governing AI systems – paramount not only in managing risk but also in building public trust – a key issue for anyone investing in AI at the moment. The University of Bath is home to some of the leading academics in the world of responsible AI. There is a national need for many more graduate and doctoral-level skills in this area… It's positive to see the government recognise and support the development of the AI.”