The Defence Science and Innovation Laboratory (Dstl) has actually signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Google Cloud to accelerate the adoption of cloud and expert system (AI) technologies within the UK defence sector.
News of the technology tie-up in between the two organisations was revealed by Paul Lincoln, the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) 2nd parliamentary under secretary of state (PUS), at the London Tech Week AI Top.
The contract will provide Dstl with access to Google Cloud’s portfolio of AI services, as well as a host of personnel learning and advancement opportunities to assist transform it into an AI-ready end-user organisation.
Dstl will also take advantage of having the ability to use the Google Cloud Marketplace, in addition to the firm’s broader partner ecosystem, while also supplying it with chances for cross-sector partnership so the defence sector can learn from how other vertical markets are using AI.
Paul Hollinshead, CEO of Dstl, stated: “As one of the most transformative and ubiquitous brand-new innovations, AI has massive capacity to transform societies. Dstl’s collaboration with Google Cloud is among the significant steps Dstl is taking to prioritise research study, advancement, and experimentation of innovations in line with our dedication to safe and responsible AI.”
News of the technology tie-up in between Google Cloud and Dstl comes hot on the heels of an announcement made by the MoD in July 2022 about the opening of the Defence AI Centre.
This initiative is similarly tailored towards speeding up take-up of AI technologies within the UK defence sector. Helen Kelisky, handling director for UK and Ireland at Google Cloud, said its cooperation with Dstl will see the set collaborate to produce a “secure and thriving UK”.
She stated: “AI has prospective to help the ministry in a broad variety of usage cases, including cyber security, disaster response, and staff member productivity. We look forward to helping Dstl in its dedication to using AI boldly and responsibly.”
The Dstl MoU is among a series of AI-focus contracts Google Cloud has actually signed with federal governments and defence firms around the world, including one with the United States Defense Innovation System.
Incidentally, the hyperscale cloud giant has likewise seen the amount of UK public sector service come its way rise noticeably in current quarters, based on the UK government’s own Digital Marketplace information, with the business protecting an overall of ₤ 2.8 m in spending through the G-Cloud framework during the very first quarter of 2023 alone.
To put this figure into context, the business has secured an overall of ₤ 7m in G-Cloud spending because the third quarter of 2020 with the bulk of that taking place given that the second quarter of 2022.
