Dr Annette Bramley, director, N8 Research Partnership
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising industries and enhancing lives worldwide, and universities across the North of England are playing an increasingly key role in this transformation.
As a region that already suffers from economic inequalities compared to the rest of the UK, it’s essential we are at the vanguard of this technology – working across business, local government and universities to safely accelerate uptake and deliver AI initiatives that will change the world for the better.
It is hoped that our region’s role in this sector will be turbocharged by the recent announcement of AI Growth Zones, with local and regional authorities across the UK being encouraged to put their communities forward to become dedicated hotbeds for AI infrastructure development and attracting millions in private investment.
As the Convention of the North – at which AI will be a key topic – kicks off, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the North’s role in the AI revolution, and to also consider how AI’s potential can be delivered ethically.
The UK Government’s AI Action Plan aims to unlock AI’s potential for economic growth, societal progress and technological advancements. Across the North, our cities have emerged as key players. Liverpool, for example, has received funding as part of a £14 billion national initiative to enhance AI infrastructure.
The city’s AI ecosystem has been further strengthened by Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure service provider, which has announced plans to create up to 1,000 new jobs in the Liverpool City Region.
AI innovation is thriving through initiatives like Meta-Liverpool, spearheaded by the University of Liverpool’s Digital Innovation Facility (DIF). This city-scale digital asset and policy modelling tool positions Liverpool alongside leading smart cities worldwide.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), aims to unlock new opportunities in science, research, business, and investment while delivering significant benefits to communities.
Also in the North West, researchers working in AI are making groundbreaking contributions to healthcare, improving diagnostics, medical procedures, and treatment outcomes.
One remarkable example is the GIFT (Guidance for Tracheostomy) project, a collaboration led by Professor Andrew Weightman at the University of Manchester. This initiative integrates advanced electromagnetic guidance systems to enhance the accuracy and safety of tracheostomy procedures. With 25% of such procedures encountering complications due to anatomical variations, GIFT improves needle placement accuracy fourfold. The result is better patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and enhanced procedural safety for both novice and experienced practitioners.
In West Yorkshire, the region is harnessing a transformation into a high-tech economy, marked by a shift from manufacturing to knowledge-intensive services over the last 40 years. There has been significant success in taking advantage of local strengths in AI to attract and link up with national infrastructure.
For the N8 university in the region – the University of Leeds – a key focus is also leading urban AI research, shaping the future of smart cities. The university is at the helm of multiple large-scale urban analytics and digital twin technology projects, including HASP and INFUZE. These initiatives enhance city planning, infrastructure resilience, and public services through AI-driven data analysis.
There’s real momentum in the North East too. Last October, private equity firm Blackstone announced a £10bn investment in a new AI data centre that will create about 4,000 jobs in Cambois, near Blyth in Northumberland. It is set to become one of Europe’s biggest AI data centres.
N8’s universities in this region are well placed to support the growth of AI in the North East and nationally. Durham University’s Advanced Research Computing department is home to Bede, a facility of the N8 Centre of Excellence in Computationally Intensive Research (N8 CIR). This supercomputer is available to researchers across the N8 to help accelerate research and scientific discovery. Bede is the first supercomputer in the UK to make use of IBM’s Power IC922 server – making use of six additional nodes to improve AI inference.
As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial to address ethical considerations, ensuring fairness, transparency, accountability, and privacy. The rapid advancement of AI brings both opportunities and challenges, and N8 recognises the importance of responsible AI deployment.
To build public trust, transparency in AI implementation and ongoing monitoring of outcomes are critical to ensuring fairness and minimising unintended consequences. Universities are actively engaging in these discussions, striving to develop AI systems that are ethical and beneficial to society.
This is one way the N8 is contributing to policy development at the national level, ensuring that AI solutions align with societal needs.
Investment in research and innovation infrastructure can have lasting effects that will benefit the whole of society, and the pioneering work of N8 universities underscores AI’s potential to address grand challenges across multiple sectors.
Whether through improving healthcare, optimising urban planning, or bolstering data security, the N8 is at the forefront of AI-driven innovation. By upholding ethical standards and embracing technological progress, our universities are proving that AI is not just about algorithms — it’s about improving lives and building a better future for all.