On Tuesday, ATB Financial announced the city of Alberta will get a boost in its contribution to the national artificial intelligence (AI) industry through a four-year partnership between it and the University of Alberta. According to ATB Financial, a group of students, paired with selected professors and the company’s science experts, are now hard at work to push the boundaries of AI and machine learning. ATB Financial has already contributed a $940,000 investment.
ATB Financial stated that projects and initial research include intuitive business analytics to support entrepreneurial growth, proactive fraud detection and customer service intelligence powered by reinforcement learning. All of the projects are designed to re-define customer service experiences at ATB Financial. Jonathan Schaeffer, Dean of the University of Alberta Faculty of Science and an expert in artificial intelligence, shared:
“Our students are motivated by hands-on learning that will lead to jobs. This learning lets the next generation of AI leaders apply their STEM skills at UAlberta, building the AI ecosystem to retain and attract talent here in Alberta.”
Wellington Holbrook, ATB’s Chief Transformation Officer, also commented:
“Every business and individual stands to benefit from the application of AI. The opportunity to collaborate with UAlberta as a key pillar in ATB’s broader AI strategy is significant. We’re able to reinforce the fabric of Alberta’s tech ecosystem with a focus on developing and benefitting the key resource at the heart of it all: people.”
ATB Financial went on to add that in addition to research collaboration, the company has expanded its investment in AI through the establishment of a Research & Affiliate Network, led by professor and artificial intelligence expert Dr. Randy Goebel as well as an AI, People & Advisory Ethics open platform, led by Dr. Geoffrey Rockwell.