AI safety in focus as UK invests in projects across fashion, farming, and fire-fighting

by Featured NewsSafety

The UK Government is injecting £37 million into diverse artificial intelligence (AI) projects, spanning areas such as fashion, farming, and fire-fighting.

The announcement comes ahead of the upcoming UK AI Safety Summit, underscoring the potential and importance of AI in various sectors.

Funding breakdown: Supporting innovation and growth

According to a recent news release, research teams and businesses across high-growth industries, ranging from transport to agriculture, are being encouraged to apply for a share of the £32 million.

This fund aims to promote the growth of AI projects in a safe manner, supporting both the workforce and the broader UK economy.

Innovative projects get a boost with AI safety in mind

In addition, £5 million will be directed towards feasibility studies for 100 projects.

These projects, involving smaller businesses throughout the UK, seek to harness the benefits of AI for various applications.

Examples include managing power supplies for EV charge points, reducing railway delays, cutting construction waste, and monitoring dairy cattle health.

During her visit to Kapdaa, a sustainable fashion brand in Kingston Upon Thames, the Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, shed light on the brand’s AI4Fibres initiative.

This AI-driven approach targets the textile recycling sector, aiming to reduce the 921,000 tonnes of used textiles discarded as household waste in the UK annually.

Kapdaa’s AI solution efficiently sorts textile waste, segregating materials and removing components like zips and buttons to enhance recycling processes.

Other notable projects receiving support include TradeWork’s AI-assisted project management systems for efficient housebuilding and DeepPlanet’s disease detection in wine grape plants using satellite imagery.

Furthermore, initiatives like DigiLab in Exeter aim to help farmers verify carbon capture.

Meanwhile, the Better Environment and Transport project is investigating AI-based solutions to transition the UK Fire & Rescue services’ fleets to net-zero, ultimately reducing fuel consumption and pollution.

Reflecting on the AI initiative’s potential

Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, stated: “When deployed safely and responsibly, AI has the potential to revolutionise the world of work, leading to unprecedented productivity and efficiency improvements.

“We are supporting 100 innovative teams, fostering ideas ranging from AI-driven clothing recycling to efficient housebuilding.

“Our £32 million competition will further stimulate innovation, helping shape the future of this vital technology and boost our economy.

“The upcoming AI Safety Summit will bring global leaders and tech experts together to collaborate on the safe and effective use of AI.”

Nishant Parekh, Co-founder of Kapdaa, added: “We aim to make the UK self-sufficient in managing its textile waste.

“Our unique, UK-developed AI system seeks to reduce landfill contributions, potentially pioneering a new industry and inspiring future generations to champion sustainability.”

The £32 million competition, which will close on 8 November, precedes the world’s first major AI Safety Summit.

The summit will gather leading AI nations, technology firms, researchers, and civil society groups to discuss the safe and responsible evolution of AI.

IFSJ Comment

The AI initiative, with a strong emphasis on safety, signifies the UK’s commitment to harnessing the benefits of this transformative technology.

By backing diverse projects, from sustainable fashion to firefighting, the government demonstrates its vision for a safer, more efficient, and environmentally conscious future.

This investment not only boosts the nation’s economy but also sets a precedent for other countries to follow, highlighting the role of AI in addressing global challenges.

AI holds promise in predicting fatal cardiac events in firefighters

by AmericasFeatured NewsResearch

New research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) utilises AI to predict potentially fatal cardiac events in firefighters

Firefighters, revered for their courage and tenacity, often face grave hazards in their line of duty.

Yet, surprisingly, it’s not fire or smoke inhalation that is the leading cause of on-duty fatalities.

Instead, sudden cardiac death accounts for about 40% of on-duty fatalities, according to recent research.

To tackle this, a team of researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and partners have used machine learning, a form of AI, to predict abnormal cardiac rhythms in firefighters.

According to a recent publication, the team hopes their research can lead to the development of a wearable heart monitor for firefighters, providing early warnings for heart troubles.

Developing a life-saving tool for firefighters

Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicates that sudden cardiac death claimed the lives of 36 firefighters on-duty in 2022.

Such incidents occur when an irregular heart rhythm halts the heart’s blood-pumping ability, often due to a heart attack.

It’s a tragic fact that sudden cardiac events kill on-duty firefighters at twice the rate of police officers and four times the rate of other emergency responders.

Chris Brown, a NIST researcher, stated: “Year after year, sudden cardiac events are by far the number one killer of firefighters.”

Beyond the fatalities, these cardiac events can also cause career-ending injuries and long-term disabilities.

The potential of AI in firefighter safety

Firefighters operate in exceptionally strenuous conditions.

Whether carrying heavy objects, climbing stairs, or enduring extreme temperatures with little opportunity to cool down, the physical demand is immense.

Yet, despite discomfort, firefighters often soldier on without realising their potential risk for sudden cardiac death.

To address this problem, NIST researchers collaborated with the University of Rochester School of Nursing.

A decade ago, Rochester researcher Mary Carey and her team collected 24-hour electrocardiogram (ECG) data from 112 firefighters. This unique data set became the basis for their AI model, known as the Heart Health Monitoring (H2M) model.

“The firefighter data we collected is so unique,” Rochester co-author Dillon Dzikowicz stated. “Having robust data is essential to move our work forward and protect firefighters.”

The team used the Rochester dataset and machine learning to train the H2M model. It learned ECG patterns from both normal and abnormal heartbeats, allowing it to predict irregular heart rhythms.

Next steps in firefighter health monitoring

Once trained and validated, H2M analysed new firefighter ECG data, identifying around 6,000 abnormal ECG samples correctly with a 97% accuracy rate.

When trained using non-firefighter data, the H2M model had a 40% error rate, highlighting the importance of the specific dataset.

“Using the right dataset to train the AI model was critical,” said NIST researcher Wai Cheong Tam.

Looking ahead, the researchers believe their model could be incorporated into wearable heart monitors for on-duty firefighters.

Such a tool could provide real-time warnings of cardiac irregularities.

“This technology can save lives,” said Tam.

He envisages the technology being applied more broadly in future, potentially benefiting other first responders and the general public, given the right training data.

IFSJ Comment

International Fire & Safety Journal is eager to follow the development of the H2M model, and its potential deployment in the field.

The capability to predict fatal cardiac events in real-time could drastically improve the safety of our firefighters and other first responders.

By tackling the leading cause of on-duty fatalities, this technology could revolutionise safety procedures within the firefighting community and beyond.

About NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the US Department of Commerce, is at the forefront of advancements in measurement science, standards, and technology.

With a mission to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness, NIST’s groundbreaking research continues to push the boundaries of scientific exploration.

The institute’s research on the prediction of fatal cardiac events in firefighters underscores their commitment to leveraging technology for societal benefits.