The University of São Paulo (USP) is now home to the new TELUS Digital Research Hub, a collaborative space designed to explore the responsible and ethical use of AI. TELUS Digital recently launched the hub at USP's Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CIAAM), backed by a $1 million investment over three years.

Fuel iX, the AI platform developed by TELUS and now part of TELUS Digital is proud to be part of this initiative. We aim to turn cutting-edge research into AI solutions that solve real-world business problems. The discoveries made at the Hub could directly enhance Fuel iX—enabling our copilots to become even more context-aware, transparent, and effective across a wide range of industries.

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For example, research into small language models (SLMs) could power future copilots that better understand nuance and context, even in specialized industries. Work on improving AI transparency and efficiency could also lead to new Fuel iX features that explain how copilots arrive at their responses, increasing user trust and enabling more personalized, impactful experiences.

"The TELUS Digital Research Hub is a great initiative, and Fuel iX is ready to help," says Bret Kinsella, GM at Fuel iX. "At TELUS Digital, our AI work is very practical, focused on solving real-world business problems with the latest technology. We're hoping that the research from the Hub at USP will lead to even better AI tools in the future. I'm excited to be involved."

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This practical approach has already been proven through TELUS's own journey. When TELUS needed to improve employee productivity and knowledge sharing, they built the Fuel iX platform. Today, Fuel iX has saved over 500,000 work hours while maintaining enterprise security, with thousands of employees using these AI tools daily for tasks like data analysis and customer service.

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With the TELUS Digital Research Hub now open, Fuel iX is poised to play a crucial role. Fuel iX will work directly with businesses, acting as a translator of sorts, helping them understand and implement the new technologies and insights emerging from the Hub. By adapting these advancements to specific business situations, Fuel iX aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical application.

TELUS Digital's commitment to AI research

TELUS Digital is building on its existing Digital Centers in Guatemala and India with this new, world-class research facility that taps into fresh, diverse perspectives to drive AI innovation. The investment in this initiative is a further commitment to supporting long-term and early-stage research today that will become the foundation of advanced features in tomorrow's AI applications.

"With the official opening of the TELUS Digital Research Hub, we’re creating a dedicated space for discovery and collaboration, where researchers can explore AI’s potential through projects with real-world impact," says Renato Vicente, Director of the TELUS Digital Research Hub. "We encourage students and researchers to apply for our grants and join us in pioneering key focus areas such as AI security, the development of small language models, and enhancing AI transparency and efficiency, while ensuring AI remains responsible and ethically driven."

Opportunities for AI researchers

AI researchers, whether undergraduate or postgraduate students, are encouraged to explore research grant opportunities and submit their applications through the official portal: telusdigital.com/research-hub.

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