NEWS
Purple Transform secures Innovate UK funding for AI-powered level crossing safety project
Purple Transform has been awarded funding from Innovate UK , part of UK Research and Innovation , to develop and trial AI models that monitor level crossings and reduce the number of safety incidents across the rail network .
The project – called ‘ Levelling Up Crossings ’ – will receive support from Innovate UK ’ s ‘ AI Solutions to Improve Productivity in Key
Sectors ’ competition , as one of the ground-breaking projects boosting UK safety , productivity and public services through AI .
The project will leverage Purple Transform ’ s proprietary intelligent platform , SiYtE , to scan CCTV footage in real-time , alerting personnel if the AI model detects dangerous or unexpected behaviour . Integrating with legacy cameras , it represents a costeffective approach to boosting safety .
“ Level crossings are a major safety concern for the entire rail industry ; not only do they represent a serious risk to the public , they are often the root cause of costly and frustrating service delays ,” said Gregory Butler , CEO , Purple Transform .
“ As it ’ s simply not feasible for rail employees to monitor all of these crossings all of the time , radical new solutions are required . That ’ s where AI comes in . Our ‘ Levelling Up Crossings ’ project will help identify safety incidents before they develop , empowering relevant personnel to rectify the situation , keeping the railway moving and people out of harm ’ s way .”
Majority of UK consumers ‘ hacking ’ customer service to avoid automated chatbots
ServiceNow , the AI platform for business transformation , has highlighted the challenges brands face in dealing with today ’ s tech-savvy consumers , with almost four out of five people ( 77 %) looking up tips and ‘ hacks ’ online to avoid speaking to a chatbot when engaging with customer service .
Just under three-quarters ( 73 %) also turn to friends and family for advice on how to avoid automated customer service .
ServiceNow ’ s research demonstrates that British consumers have become experts in avoiding interactions with tech solutions such as chatbots . Three out of four people ( 75 %) say that they opt to press no menu options at all on customer service lines in the hope that this will get them through to a human being . The dedication among consumers to embracing these hacks is so strong that one in two ( 49 %) admitted to having posted advice online on how to sidestep automated responses .
Simon Morris , VP Solution Consulting at ServiceNow , said : “ This research and the very existence of these ‘ hacks ’ reveal that businesses have yet to figure out how to get their customer experience right . Automation is here to enhance customer service and help increase both customers and agents ’ satisfaction . For this to happen though , companies must get the right mixture of ‘ high-tech ’ and ‘ high-touch ’, one where AI and workforce work hand in hand rather than compete .”
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