CommonAI launched to supercharge UK & Europe AI market

Anthemis, a leading early-stage investment firm, and Cambridge AI Venture Partners (CAIVP) - a team comprised of industry experts Sir Andy Hopper, Prof. Rob Mullins, Dr Gavin Ferris and Mike Halsall – have launched CommonAI, a collaborative engineering and computing platform for AI-enabled start-ups, enterprises, engineers, academics and investors.

CommonAI combines the deep AI knowledge of CAIVP with the investment expertise of Anglo-American influencer Anthemis to turbocharge the UK and European AI innovation ecosystem.

The initiative seeks to tackle the key challenges and barriers startups and other enterprises face, so they can innovate safely and cost effectively, reduce their reliance on Big Tech and secure the strategic investment vital to seizing the AI growth opportunity.

At the heart of the initiative is the non-profit engineering organisation – Common AI CIC – a UK community interest company that will co-develop foundational AI IP in partnership with its members. The platform additionally provides access to CommonAI Compute Ltd – a facilitator of cost effective GPU resource. Both entities will be underpinned by a shared Digital Commons repository, providing world class resources to ecosystem members under time embargo.

Through CommonAI membership, AI-enabled start-ups and enterprises will gain access to world-class IP including models, weights, framework software, training data and hardware designs, while also gaining affordable access to critical GPU resources. Together, these capabilities will allow UK and European businesses to develop AI-enabled propositions that can successfully compete at global scale.

Dr Gavin Ferris, CEO, CommonAI CIC said: “Increasingly, AI startups and SMEs find themselves unable to assemble the computing power, technology and strategic resources necessary to successfully compete on the world stage. CommonAI’s innovation platform, shared IP and industry expertise will play a critical role in levelling this playing field, unlocking new growth opportunities and protecting the long-term economic future of both the UK and Europe.

“Structuring and governing our engineering organisation as an unconflicted Community Interest Company (CIC) ensures that the interests of our members are protected while encouraging collaboration and maximising the potential of the UK AI ecosystem."

Sir Andy Hopper, Board Chair, CommonAI CIC added: “AI is reshaping the global economy and will power disruption across every sector. However, with Big Tech’s dominance over large-scale AI models and infrastructure, start-ups are being denied access to this burgeoning opportunity – and even larger enterprises face the challenge of balancing their innovation agenda with the resources required to power their core business.

“By enabling ‘Virtual BigCos’ and unleashing the latent power of our entrepreneurs – and working in partnership with leading engineering talent, research institutions and universities – businesses of all scales in our economy can access the capabilities and expertise they need to thrive on the global stage."

Now the platform has been launched Anthemis plans to raise a 'High Assurance AI' fund to invest in UK and European startups who are applying AI in highly regulated and complex industries such as financial services, healthcare, critical infrastructure and cybersecurity.

This is the first in a planned series of CommonAI-branded funds that aim to extend the traditional VC offering, by providing portfolio companies access not only to capital, but also to the transformative technology support of the foundational CommonAI platform.

Anthemis Founder and Group CEO, Amy Nauiokas, said: “The UK’s Industrial Strategy sets out an ambitious AI plan, but delivering this vision requires collaboration and engagement between government and the wider ecosystem, alongside a bold approach.

“We’re delighted to be putting ourselves at the heart of this and developing an unparalleled platform around which stakeholders can coalesce to deliver meaningful impact. Decisive action has never been more necessary to establish the UK and Europe as a global leader and maintain its attractiveness as a destination for disruptive businesses.

“We are building an AI ecosystem to drive forward action – one that clears the barriers to accessing the opportunities presented by a new wave of innovation and combines deep expertise, cutting-edge technology, cheaper compute and access to smart, supportive capital.

“Getting this right is critical to the UK and Europe’s economic future and we’re excited about the prospect of working alongside our partners and members to build the next generation of industry champions."

CommonAI CTO, Professor Robert Mullins, Fellow and College Lecturer in Computer Science at St John’s College, University of Cambridge, added: “This is a tremendously exciting moment for computer science and technology - the ability to harness AI will be central to the next wave of scientific breakthroughs. CommonAI has been founded to help small companies and academia work together like one big company so the UK can compete with global tech giants.

“Today’s computers are narrowing the gap between traditional computational power and the uniquely human capabilities once thought beyond their reach. AI will transform every aspect of our lives, for Cambridge, the UK and Europe to continue to lead both research and innovation we must operate at the right scale.

“If we are to remain globally competitive, we must act with urgency and scale up our efforts and infrastructure now. Today we are at the beginning of the AI journey and the opportunities ahead are vast.

“When Sir Maurice Wilkes built EDSAC, one of the world’s first practical electronic computers, here at St John’s more than 75 years ago, he transformed what was possible in computing.

“Today, AI is giving us a similar moment – the chance to harness extraordinary computing power to solve problems that were once beyond reach. With CommonAI, we can harness artificial intelligence to drive the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs.”

For more information on how early-stage AI-enabled startups, enterprises and investors can interact with the CommonAI ecosystem, visit www.commonai.com