Akara Robotics, a spin-out from Trinity College Dublin now based at the Digital Hub in Dublin’s Liberties, won the award for Best Application of AI in Healthcare. 

Akara has grown over the past few years after emerging from years of research from Trinity’s School of Engineering and the SFI ADAPT Centre.  Also shortlisted in the category were Axial 3D, Opamind, and Rinocloud. 

Akara developed Violet, the first clinical-grade fully autonomous UV disinfection robot. Violet uses advanced sensing and AI abilities that allow it to traverse complex hospital environments and closely control the parts of the room that are irradiated.

The AI Awards supports the growth and development of data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in Ireland. The awards seek to recognise how AI can be used to help solve some of the biggest, business, academic, environmental and health challenges facing our society today.

The event was organised by the non-profit AI Ireland and supported by headline sponsor Microsoft along with other sponsors: Alldus International, the ADAPT Centre, CCT College Dublin, Mazars and IDA Ireland.

“It’s been fantastic to witness the breadth and depth of the AI Award’s winners today,” said Mark Kelly, founder of AI Ireland. “As the world undergoes seismic change, the sheer breadth of AI and machine learning, research, development and implementation across private, public and academic organisations is exciting and shows how AI can help us embrace change and avail of massive opportunities in this new reality.”