A project to explore the potential of using artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce bakery waste and better predict sales is among those to receive a cut of £7m funding.
The pot, from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Technology Missions Fund and delivered by Innovate UK BridgeAI programme, will help 120 small business projects test potentially transformative AI technology across four high growth industry sectors – agri-food, transport & logistics, construction, and creative industries.
Projects will see small to medium-sized enterprises and research organisations working together to solve pressing business challenges that include reducing food wastage, improving road infrastructure to increase safety, and encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion at work.
A project at London’s Miel Bakery was among those to receive funding. Owned by Shaheen Peerbhai, the independent, French-influenced bakery specialises in Viennoiserie, sourdough, and buns, with tarts, kouign amann, cookies, and more available.
The will collaborate with Oxford Cognitive Labs to explore the potential for AI technology to reduce food wastage. It aims to accurately predict sales and forecast how many of each product the bakery needs to make daily to optimise their baking processes, assessing the technical feasibility of using historic sales and other data sources to predict future sales. It will also explore the business case to widen the use of the technology to other businesses.
“Putting AI to work right across the economy can help businesses cut waste, move faster and be more productive,” said science and technology secretary Peter Kyle. “The huge range of projects receiving funding today, from farmers and bakers to those tackling potholes on our roads and mould in residential properties, demonstrates the truly limitless benefits of AI that are there for the taking.
“And take them we will, with our 50-point AI Opportunities Plan… to unleash AI across the UK, delivering a decade of national renewal and firing up our Plan for Change.”
Another example of a bakery using AI is Mademoiselle Desserts which put it to work to help create autumnal cakes. Caramelised onion brownies and jalapeno plum cakes were vetoed by the firm’s development team, but the Blackberry & Mascarpone Cake was taken forward into production.
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