LONDON — The Institute for Intelligent Networked Systems has inaugurated its new hub in London, marking a significant step towards expanding its European partnerships and pioneering research in artificial intelligence (AI) and wireless communications. The institute, which originated at Northeastern University’s Boston campus in 2019, has secured 68 patents and established over 30 industry partnerships, reflecting its commitment to advancing wellness research and technology.
The London hub represents the institute’s first expansion outside the United States, aimed at fostering transatlantic collaboration in the AI and wireless communications sectors. “We’re going to be working at creating an interface between the world of connectivity and the world of intelligence,” said director Tommaso Melodia at the launch event held on Friday. He emphasized that the new office would broaden their research focus with additional topics and expertise.
With the goal of enhancing wireless communications to be faster, more energy-efficient, and secure, the London hub will complement the institute’s existing headquarters in Boston and a satellite office in Burlington, Massachusetts. The U.K. operation will be led by Bipin Rajendran, a professor of intelligent computing systems, and Osvaldo Simeone, a professor of information engineering.
Rajendran and Simeone are already initiating research projects, including collaborations with IBM aimed at developing the next generation of AI hardware. They will also examine the behavior of AI technologies in everyday applications such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, focusing on mitigating misbehavior in these systems.
Melodia expressed optimism about diversifying the institute’s expertise through the addition of these researchers, who bring a focus on machine learning, neuromorphic computing—an area inspired by human brain processes—and quantum computing. “The creation of the hub in London will create an opportunity to partner even more in Europe and to create additional opportunities,” Melodia stated.
Simeone outlined the two primary missions of the U.K. hub: developing reliable AI and exploring emerging computing technologies. Each professor brings a complementary skill set to the table; Rajendran is adept in systems, hardware, and software design, while Simeone focuses on theoretical frameworks within information theory. This partnership, cultivated over a decade, is seen as a pivotal advantage for advancing the institute’s research portfolio.
Simeone has secured funding from the European Research Council to investigate AI reliability in telecommunications and is currently recruiting researchers for a project set to launch in February. He is also collaborating with Coefficient Giving to develop mechanisms for detecting when large language models (LLMs) misbehave, such as attempting to “cheat” or “jailbreak.” “We put probes inside the model to figure out when the model is reasoning or going in directions it isn’t supposed to,” he explained.
Rajendran’s work involves a three-year project funded by the U.K.’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency, which aims to create accelerators for LLMs, dramatically reducing the costs associated with training or developing these models. “The aim is to reduce the cost of LLM training or model development by a factor of one hundred or so compared to the current graphics processing units,” he elaborated.
Additionally, Rajendran is collaborating with IBM on a Horizon Europe-funded initiative that seeks to innovate AI hardware beyond the current silicon-based semiconductors. Simeone expressed enthusiasm about leading the institute’s expansion into Europe, praising Melodia’s leadership as a driving force behind its recognition in telecommunications research. The institute has attracted $130 million in funding over seven years, boasts 225 members, and collaborates with over 30 industry partners.
The London hub’s official launch included a conference in Devon House, featuring speakers from both academia and industry, including representatives from major U.S. tech companies such as IBM and Nvidia. Simeone noted that the event served to announce the institute’s presence in Europe and foster collaboration opportunities with local experts. “It is to put us on the map and to celebrate this new initiative,” he said.
As the new hub embarks on its mission, the potential for groundbreaking advancements in AI and telecommunications is poised to reshape both the academic and industrial landscapes, setting the stage for future innovations.
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