The University of Sheffield’s Centre for Machine Intelligence (CMI) has appointed AMRC senior theme lead for Data, Connectivity and AI, Dr Jon Stammers, as its new joint theme lead in AI for Engineering and Manufacturing. 

He will join Prof Tom Hayward, a professor of materials physics from the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University. Together, their leadership is aimed to significantly boost the University’s efforts to integrate machine intelligence across these two key sectors. 

Dr Stammers said he’s excited to get stuck into the new role, with the hope of bringing the work of the AMRC and University in these areas closer together. 

“Being appointed to this role means I am now able to spend dedicated time making an impact in this area,” said Dr Stammers. “It gives me more of an opportunity to look closely at what the AMRC is doing around AI for manufacturing, why we are doing it and where we can improve. 

“The CMI exists as a research centre of excellence for AI and the AMRC is a research centre of excellence in manufacturing – but there’s a gap recognised on both sides – and now, it’s an opportunity to bring these two areas together.”

Dr Stammers brings to the CMI extensive expertise – with a background in electronic engineering, his work at the AMRC focuses on enabling Smart Factories through data capture, AI applications and understanding the impact of new technologies in manufacturing. 

Prof Hayward’s research centres on nano-scale magnetism and spintronics, particularly in developing energy-efficient neuromorphic (brain-like) computing devices. His work aims to revolutionise how AI is used by drastically reducing its energy consumption. 

Prof Tom Hayward.

Together, the pair will drive innovation by bridging cutting-edge machine intelligence research with practical applications in engineering and manufacturing. Their combined knowledge will foster new collaborations within the University and with industry partners.

Looking ahead to the next 12 months, Dr Stammers added: “For me, if we have secured one or two active research partnerships via the CMI, that are linking colleagues across the University with the AMRC, that will be an immediate win. 

“Now we have a team in place, our next focus is on putting a strategy in place in terms of what we want to achieve, how both the University and AMRC can work together and discover what industry needs.”

Dr Stammers explained how the CMI’s work matters, adding that AI is everywhere, will continue to be and is only becoming more widespread. 

“Gemini and ChatGPT is what most people associate with AI, but it is a lot more than that,” he said. “Part of this role is understanding and exposing more about what AI actually includes, how it will impact manufacturing and how we get the best from it.”