Unilever has used AI prior to now for different functions, equivalent to analysis into the intestine microbiome, biotechnology, and shopper communication. However the brand new lab is all about knowledge.
The AI Horizon3 Lab in Toronto, Canada will discover 15 fundamental areas of focus. Most of those areas are nonetheless confidential, a Unilever spokesperson informed FoodNavigator, however some areas of focus have already been outlined, together with the three that may kick off the lab’s analysis: forecasting, modelling advanced knowledge relationships by way of graph expertise, and the era of insights into developments, patterns and predictions.
The lab “will initially give attention to the three which have the best potential for making a direct impression,” the spokesperson informed us.
“The aim of the lab is to generate new ideas, designs, and initiatives that may be scaled and shared throughout the enterprise globally.
“AI, as you realize, is shifting at such a tempo that it is very important the enterprise that we allow our groups to not solely take a look at the present makes use of of AI, but in addition future enterprise instances. Unilever’s “Horizon3 Labs” signify a rise in expertise funding that grew out of the corporate’s give attention to using AI to extend productiveness and effectivity.
“At present, Unilever is utilizing this expertise throughout its enterprise, together with generative AI in its customer support and advertising, and superior analytics and machine studying in provide chain and logistics.”
The brand new lab will give attention to is graph database purposes, which is able to make sense of a lot of the corporate’s knowledge. “The simplicity with which these graph databases can signify advanced knowledge presents many advantages equivalent to facilitating visible illustration of information and relationships,” mentioned Gary Bogdani, Unilever’s Head of Knowledge Science for North America and Canada D&A.
“They’ll additionally energy advice engines by figuring out connections between customers and merchandise, and assist collaborative and social purposes by effectively managing connections between customers, posts and interactions.”
