CONTENTS
04 NEWS & EVENTS
News and events, including details on Cambridge Cleantech's Venture Day.
08 AI SPECIAL
Leading local AI firms consider the challenges facing those working in artificial intelligence. 17 ADDRESSING BIASES IN DATASETS John Cassidy of Cambridge Cancer Genomics looks at the role of AI in healthcare. 18 A NEW AI COMMUNITY Belle Taylor discusses the new network she's building for AI companies in the city. 20 SURE YOU WANT TO POST IT? Dr Marcus Tomalin looks at using AI to combat hate speech online. 22 INVEST IN THE ECOSYSTEM Anna Lawlor shows you how to get a slice of the booming Cambridge economy. 27 PITCH PERFECT Local start-ups give us their pitch. Up this month, Cambridge Carbon Capture. 28 THE BIG 3 Greg Law, CEO of Undo, on the people who've been integral to his success. 30 INNOVATION: THE FUTURE OF FOOD The director of Agri-Tech East discusses how digital mapping is revolutionising farming. 32 TECH BYTES The latest news from the fizzing Cambridge Cluster. 36 SPACE EXPLORATION We explore business spaces in the area, from co-working hubs to conference venues. 40 DOING GOOD & DOING WELL The Cambridge social ventures making an impact. 47 AGAINST THE GRAIN We find out the story behind Grain Culture, the Ely bakery everyone's talking about.
With tech giants flocking to Cambridge to develop their machine learning capabilities and cutting-edge artificial intelligence start-ups surfacing here almost weekly, our city is establishing itself as a globally recognised AI capital. But as companies and investors race to harness its mind-boggling potential and artificial intelligence becomes ever-more embedded in our daily lives, should we be worried? Many of us are, according to research highlighted in Has AI Got An Image Problem? (page 8), which explores commonly held fears about AI bias, ethics and most alarmingly, the potential for superintelligent machines to take over and make slaves of us all (thanks for that one, sci-fi). This feature, along with other AI focused articles in this issue, will draw on expert insight from movers and shakers of the Cambridge AI scene to delve into the misconceptions, challenges and opportunities presenting themselves in the world of machine learning. One Cambridge academic taking a positive view on AI’s applications is Dr Marcus Tomalin, who looks at how artificial intelligence could be the key to tackling online hate speech. Amid growing concerns about the psychological and societal harm this kind of abusive digital content can cause, he investigates how AI-powered quarantining of content may hold the solution on page 20. We’ve also got a look at the role of AI in healthcare over on page 17, where Cambridge Cancer Genomics CEO John Cassidy discusses his company’s revolutionary AI precision oncology. Then, on page 18, we learn about Camb.ai, a new network for artificial intelligence companies in the city. With a goal of creating on and offline spaces where Cambridge’s ever-growing number of AI firms and entrepreneurs can meet, learn and collaborate, it’s about bringing the community in the city together and pushing it forward, says founder Belle Taylor. Elsewhere in this issue, we continue our guide to investing in the Cambridge economy, offering pro tips on getting a piece of the commercial property market (page 22), plus get the lowdown on Cambridge Carbon Capture in Pitch Perfect on page 27. Enjoy the issue and keep an eye out for number 5, out in January.
NICOLA FOLEY EDITOR IN CHIEF
EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com CHIEF SUB EDITOR Beth Fletcher SENIOR SUB EDITOR Siobhan Godwood SUB EDITOR Felicity Evans JUNIOR SUB EDITOR Elisha Young ADVERTISING AD MANAGER Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright-publishing.com AD SALES MANAGER Ed Grundy 01223 499463 edgrundy@bright-publishing.com MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450
CONTRIBUTORS Anna Lawlor, Matthew Gooding, John Cassidy, Belle Taylor, Marcus Tomalin, Greg Law, Belinda Clarke, Charlotte Griffiths
@cambscatalyst cambridgecatalyst.co.uk
52 A CATALYST CHRISTMAS
DESIGN & PRODUCTION DESIGN DIRECTOR Andy Jennings DESIGN MANAGER Alan Gray
Blitz your Christmas shopping at these interesting and innovative Cambridge shops
EDITORIAL DESIGN Laura Bryant, Lucy Woolcomb, Emily Lancaster, Bruce Richardson, Man-Wai Wong
56 OUT OF OFFICE
AD PRODUCTION Man-Wai Wong catalystads@bright-publishing.com
What's on this month, plus we pay a visit to The White House hotel in north Norfolk.
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