Bell and Mila, a Montreal-based artificial intelligence (AI) research institute, announced last Friday an 18-month collaboration to apply deep learning neural network algorithms to Bell’s systems and data, the latest step in the telecom’s ongoing advancement of its AI expertise.
Bell says in a press release it has already made significant investments to develop extensive data analytics capabilities and AI applications in multiple areas of its operations.
“Mila researchers will work alongside Bell’s Machine Learning and AI teams to build on those investments by using cutting-edge deep learning neural network techniques to identify opportunities for improving business performance and customer experience” and to accelerate AI innovations using cloud computing, Bell says.
Inspired by the human brain, neural network deep learning models “teach computers to recognize complex patterns in pictures, text, sounds and other data to produce accurate insights and predictions,” the press release explains.
“By advancing its understanding of deep learning AI techniques, Bell will continue to enhance its customer experience and accelerate its transition from a traditional telecommunications company to a technology services leader,” Bell says.
As part of their collaboration, Bell and Mila will publish a paper highlighting their technical findings in support of global AI advancement, they say.
“Working with a global leader like Mila right here in Montréal is a great opportunity for Bell to benefit from leading-edge researchers, advance our AI and Cloud expertise, further improve the customer experience and establish our role as a technology services leader,” Michel Richer, senior vice-president of enterprise solutions, data engineering and AI at Bell, said in the release.
“Mila is very pleased to work with Bell and apply its renowned expertise in deep learning to the telecommunications sector,” said Stéphane Létourneau, executive vice-president of Mila. “Through this collaboration, we look forward to combining Mila’s research capabilities with Bell’s extensive industry knowledge in order to highlight and harness AI’s potential in this evolving field.”
Founded by professor Yoshua Bengio of the University of Montreal, Mila is the result of a collaboration between the University of Montreal and McGill University, in close collaboration with Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal. The institute also hosts professors from Laval University in Quebec City, Université de Sherbrooke and the École de technologie supérieure in Montreal, bringing together more than 1,200 specialized researchers in machine learning.
