Creative AI students at the University of Southampton have embraced social distancing by constructing an inventive Rube Goldberg Machine that travels around the city.

Seventeen new starters at the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Machine Intelligence for Nanoelectronic Devices and Systems (MINDS) spread the joy in the one-minute video.

The cohort were challenged to construct the chain reaction and post a group photo as part of their virtual induction into the iPhD programme.

A cuddly Pikachu, Donald Trump disco and hungry hound all flash in and out of sight before a cool glass of white wine is poured for an appreciative student.

The MINDS CDT is developing the next generation of technology pioneers who will have the skills, assets and network to innovate at the interface of Artificial Intelligence and Electronics, and enable systems with beneficial human impact.

All students in the research training programme follow a combination of computer science and electronics modules that develop cross-disciplinary expertise, before focussing on a core research element.

Professor Tim Norman, CDT Director and Head of the Agents, Interaction and Complexity Group, says: "It's great to be working with our second cohort on the MINDS Integrated PhD programme, one of the UK Government’s centres of excellence in AI research training. Seventeen students joined us this year with backgrounds from across Maths, Physics, Computer Science and Engineering."

Dr Christine Evers, Training & Cohort Development Lead and Embedded AI Theme Leader, adds: "Our aim as a Centre for Doctoral Training is high quality research in a supportive and collaborative environment, and to have some fun at the same time. We are all deeply impressed by the virtual Rube Goldberg Machine and look forward to seeing this talent being channelled into ambitious research projects that will impact society, security and safety."

While induction activities have had to take place online for the second cohort, the new students have built up a strong and supportive sense of togetherness, through the University’s approach to blended learning and managing to meet in person when social distancing rules allowed before the recent lockdown.

Existing students have taken on mentoring roles for the new starters and also recently put together a virtual AI workshop for local sixth form colleges and schools.

Applications for a 2021 MINDS CDT Studentship are now open.

Professor Dame Wendy Hall has urged the UK to keep its foot "firmly on the accelerator" in Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills and diversity with the publication of a new independent report to guide the UK government.

The Regius Professor in Computer Science at the University of Southampton welcomed the AI Council Roadmap that sets out how the nation can be one of the very best places in the world to live with, work with and develop AI.

Dame Wendy contributed significantly to the Roadmap as a member of the UK's AI Council and also in her capacity as the country's AI Skills Champion. The Roadmap builds on the UK government's AI Review, published in 2017, which was co-chaired by Dame Wendy with Jerome Presenti, former CEO of BenevolentTech and now Vice-President of AI at Facebook.

The Roadmap summarises four pillars on which to build the UK's future in AI – Research, Development & Innovation; Skills and Diversity; Data, Infrastructure and Public Trust; and National Cross-sector Adoption - with 16 specific recommendations offered to help the government develop that National AI Strategy.

Dame Wendy, Executive Director of the Web Science Institute, says: "I am really excited to see the release of the AI Council Roadmap which builds on all the wonderful work done since the AI Review in 2017.

"The state of AI has changed much since then, and I am very much looking forward to being part of developing the ideas and recommendations described in the Roadmap. In particular, it is vital we keep our foot firmly on the accelerator with regards to skills and diversity."

Read the full story on the main news page.