UK centre launches to drive creative industries’ AI revolution
A new Centre for Creative AI has been launched through a partnership between academic institutions and industry companies to drive the development and understanding of artificial intelligence across the UK's creative industries.
Academic and commercial collaboration
The Centre for Creative AI is a collaborative effort involving University College London (UCL), the Royal College of Art (RCA), and The Brandtech Group. This centre aims to explore and apply AI across sectors, including entertainment, media, fashion, music, and art.
The centre is supported by companies including Diageo, Unilever, Runway, Snap, legal firm Cooley, and the Design Museum. These organisations will work together with academia to identify opportunities where AI can be applied within creative contexts.
Supporting emerging talent
Young creatives and students from UCL and the RCA will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders and participate in projects that focus on integrating AI technology with creative practices. The centre will utilise the expertise of UCL's Centre for AI, UCL Arts and Sciences, and RCA students engaged in the intersection of art, science, and AI.
The intention is to facilitate collaboration between businesses and university talent, aiming to inspire challenges, encourage thought leadership, and contribute to professional development in the field of AI within creative sectors. All profits generated by the centre will be directed towards its mission to support the growth and understanding of AI in the creative field.
Advisory and governance structure
The centre will be overseen by an advisory council composed of business leaders, university figures, and research funders. A board of directors, chaired by former Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon, will administer the centre's operations. The first council meeting is scheduled for September, followed by a public forum in early November.
Industry perspectives
Brandtech Group Founder and CEO David Jones says: "Gen AI is sparking the greatest creative revolution in history, in my opinion. It's not a matter of 'if' AI will be more creative than humans, it's just when. What a lot of people don't realise is Gen AI is not a 'tool', it's an intelligence and it will augment human creativity to incredible levels, shaping completely new forms of creativity. We are delighted to have been involved in the CCAI's inception."
The new centre aims to catalyse commercially viable projects and propose agendas for AI's role in the creative sector. By fostering relationships between brands, the industry, and leading UK universities, the centre aims to expand both the scope and depth of AI's creative applications.
Empowering artists with AI
Centre for Creative AI chair Alex Mahon said: "Gen AI is a powerful new frontier for creativity, but its true potential lies in how we choose to use it. With curiosity, integrity and imagination, we can shape tools that don't replace artists, but empower them. This is a moment for the UK to lead, blending emerging technology with our world-renowned creative spirit."
The centre's founders state that there are currently few forums for credible examination and debate regarding the rapidly growing AI applications in creative sectors. This initiative is designed to set the agenda for these discussions and to bring together stakeholders from various backgrounds for mutual benefit.
Professor of Design Computing, Sean Hanna, from the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture commented: "Creative AI is already beginning to transform design, fashion and architecture. We are at a pivotal moment, where the access and scope of the technology may be beyond most users' understanding of what it can do, so figuring out what's possible via highly talented students is exactly what is needed to advance the area."
UCL's continued focus on AI research, recognised by recent Nobel prize awards for contributions to the field, contributes to the centre's aspiration to shape the future of creative AI in the UK and internationally.
