TELUS Digital to invest $1m over three years to drive frontier research in AI-fueled CX applications, software and solutions.
TELUS Digital is expanding its global AI research footprint with the launch of the TELUS Digital Research Hub at the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
Through a $1 million investment over three years, the state-of-the-art facility will serve as a collaborative research space, attracting leading global AI research talent to drive advancements in AI-fueled CX.
The TELUS Digital Research Hub will be located within the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CIAAM) located at USP, an integrative center established in 2023 to catalyze innovation and foster discussions on technological, economic and social impact.
TELUS Digital is joining a notable group of global companies, including Motorola, IBM and Itaú, already established at the Center that are contributing to CIAAM’s AI research ecosystem.
“The launch of TELUS Digital’s partnership with USP and our new TELUS Digital Research Hub on campus marks an exciting milestone in our company’s sustained commitment to advancing AI research and development, incorporating diverse perspectives to mitigate bias and promote responsible AI and contributing to the global dialogue on AI’s potential,” said Renato Vicente, Director, TELUS Digital Research Hub.
“Our company’s dedication to providing exceptional, AI-fueled customer experiences and outcomes for the brands we serve globally will help direct our research agenda over the next three years. This will include advancing the capabilities of Fuel iX, our proprietary, generative AI platform and suite of solutions that personalize, secure and scale digital interactions. By uniting academia and leading CX industry experts, our goal is to leverage the strengths of both groups to create innovative and transformative real-world applications with measurable impacts.”
At the core of the TELUS Digital Research Hub is a commitment to foster the next generation of AI researchers and develop advancements in AI-fueled CX innovation, while ensuring that AI advancements remain human-centered, ethically designed and purpose-driven.
Aligned with TELUS Digital’s Humanity-in-the-Loop principles, the Research Hub will focus on advancing AI that is not only innovative but also grounded in human insight and ethical governance. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, it will create an environment where diverse perspectives drive responsible AI development that may contribute to broader societal benefits.
TELUS Digital’s $1 million investment will fund various grants, fellowships, and collaborative research and teaching initiatives, providing opportunities for students, postdoctoral researchers and visiting scholars from around the world to contribute to pioneering AI research.
The São Paulo hub will complement TELUS Digital’s digitization campuses already established in India and Guatemala.
The investment in Brazil also deepens the company’s commitment to the country’s thriving AI ecosystem and builds on its existing strong presence in São Paulo and Porto Alegre, following its 2021 acquisition of WillowTree, which included Poatek, a software engineering and data science firm.