In a groundbreaking move, Unilever has recently established its AI Horizon3 Lab in Toronto, Canada, ushering in a new era of collaboration between artificial intelligence (AI) and human ingenuity. Led by Unilever's global Operations Data and Analytics team, this innovative lab is poised to revolutionize the company's operations and drive unprecedented levels of innovation and growth.
The AI Horizon3 Lab adopts a hybrid model, where Unilever employees will collaborate with academics, start-ups, and industry leaders on various AI research projects. The goal is clear: to harness the full potential of AI and address the question of how it can be leveraged to optimize business outcomes.
Andy Hill, Chief Data Officer of Unilever, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, "Unilever is making a significant investment in developing and deploying AI technology across the business." The lab, he notes, will expedite global progress and allow the company to focus on answering significant questions through AI.
The lab's initial focus lies on three areas with the most immediate impact potential: forecasting, modeling complex data relationships with graph technology, and generating insights through generative AI (GenAI). GenAI, already making waves at Unilever, proves invaluable in transforming consumer communication, introducing innovative approaches to content delivery and engagement.
While graph database applications are a new frontier for Unilever, they offer exciting opportunities to tap into untapped potential. These applications simplify the representation of complex data, facilitate visualizations, and support diverse aspects of business, from sourcing materials to analyzing consumer behavior.
Gary Bogdani, Unilever’s Head of Data Science for North America and Canada D&A, explains, "The simplicity with which these graph databases can represent complex data offers many benefits." These databases can power recommendation engines, identify connections between consumers and products, and efficiently manage connections in collaborative and social applications.
However, the true power of the Horizon3 Lab lies not only in cutting-edge AI technology but also in human intelligence and ingenuity. Andy Hill envisions building an ecosystem where diverse minds collaborate with industry leaders, start-ups, academia, and visionaries worldwide to co-create solutions that challenge the status quo.
"We aim to be architects of disruptive innovations that challenge the status quo, push the envelope of what is possible, and reshape the way we do business," adds Andy Hill. With the tech and talent in place, Unilever's AI Horizon3 Lab stands as a formidable force for change, paving the way for a future shaped by AI-powered innovation and collaboration.
