UK artificial intelligence investment has reached record highs. Investment in AI technology grew almost six-fold from 2014 to 2018, with UK AI scaleups raising almost double that of France, Germany and the rest of Europe combined last year. As AI becomes more pervasive, 2019 is set to be another year of record funding growth for AI in the UK, building on four years of consecutive growth. In the first six months of this year, AI funding in the UK has already surpassed 2018's figures -- AI investment reached $1,021,642,595 in 2018 in the UK, but has already reached $1,063,012,777 in the first six months of 2019 (Source: Crunchbase). Based on these figures, the UK is currently third in the world for raising investment in AI, behind only China and the US and second in the world (behind the US) for the number of AI companies in operation during 2019 (Source: Crunchbase).

Two Manchester based companies are joining the UK's first Applied AI growth programme, as it is also reveals that UK AI investment is reaching record highs. Investment in AI technology grew almost six-fold from 2014 to 2018, with UK AI scaleups raising almost double that of France, Germany and the rest of Europe combined last year. In the first 6 months of this year, AI funding in the UK has already surpassed 2018's figures. As a result, the UK is currently third in the world for raising investment in AI, behind only China and the U.S. respectively for the number of AI companies in operation during 2019. Dream Agility and DigitalBridge have been identified as one of the UK's future leading AI companies. Elizabeth Clark, CEO, Dream Agility, Manchester commented: "We're delighted to have made it onto the Applied AI scheme.

When it comes to the issue of health in South Africa, particularly when it concerns matters of life and death, artificial intelligence (AI) is seen to offer enormous promise regarding improving outcomes. The technology's ability to gain information, process it and deliver an output, all while recognising patterns in behaviour and creating its own logic, is what distinguishes it. The reality, though, is that AI has already moved beyond the'promise' stage, explains Ronelle Naidoo, head of sales at Mint Group. There are, in fact, already tangible examples of it in use within the healthcare sector. Naidoo points to Dr Raymond Campbell, of Phulukisa Healthcare Solutions, as one example of the type of out-the-box thinking that, when applied to such technology, is beginning to revolutionise the sector.

We live in a world where the concept of the relationship between candidate and company is everything in talent acquisition. The rise of automation, improvements in recruitment technology, and the improved communications that come with this, is key to optimising these relationships, which has become a key concern for both employer and candidate.