DEC UK has formed a new unit to sell artificial intelligence services. Based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, the 12-strong Artificial Intelligence Consultancy Unit aims to provide expert systems-based solutions and training under the grandiose AI Leadership Services banner to new and existing users. The Unit marks DEC return to the UK artificial intelli-gence market after a two-year absence. According to marketing manager Kevin Doyle, the intervening period has been spent doing market research and developing a strategy in the UK. The core curriculum of Leadership Services includes an introduction to the subject; an overview of languages such as Lisp, Prolog and OPS5; and courses on knowledge acquisition and knowledge engineering. Management courses on DEC’s expert systems methodology and the resources required for implementation will also be offered. Additionally, the Unit will carry out surveys of applications that could benefit from the use of the technology within a customer’s site, and will build demonstration systems and prototypes. Users wan-ting to develop full production systems will be required to make a major investment in people and res-ources. Customers will be expected to maintain and further develop their own systems. Doyle hopes that as a result DEC will learn from, as well as, teach its customers. In a bid to strengthen its own artificial intelligence offerings, DEC gill support third party developers with technical advice, equipment loans and occasionally cash. It will also refer customers directly to third parties and is considering project collaborations.
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