Centre for Digital Innovation project helps AI social media start-up GhostPosts on innovative R&D

Posted on by Cyber Works - Case Study

Centre for Digital Innovation with project partner logos including: Innovate UK, Manchester Metropolitan, Universities of Manchester, Salford and Lancaster, the Greater Manchester Colleges Group.

Tech entrepreneur Liam Brennan has developed a cutting-edge tool that uses AI to create ethical, cyber secure and environmentally sustainable social media content thanks to the support of Lancaster University and CDI.

GhostPosts, a platform which generates inclusive content for businesses that can be used for social media. Using innovative machine learning and a series of prompts including writing style and audience, social posts are created in a matter of seconds, increasing efficiency and productivity, therefore reducing carbon footprint.

TECHNICAL INNOVATION

Having worked with Lancaster University to develop the platform and complete ground-breaking research on the carbon footprint of social media and sustainable behaviour, Liam’s latest collaboration is a CDI-funded Masters by Research project focussing on training AI to create ethical content.

This 12-month project between GhostPosts, postgraduate student Ed Shirvington and Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications is exploring how to automatically add inclusive and ethical prompts behind the scenes to make sure the content is aligned to the principles and ethics of a business.

FUNDED BY CDI

Dr. Rebecca Robinson, Programme Lead for the CDI, Lancaster University, explained: “One of the major challenges of using AI to generate content is the lack of a human touch, creativity and unique perspective, especially to achieve empathy and inclusiveness.

“Ed’s research aims to see if there is potential to train a LLM to flag problematic words and phrases which could be deemed unethical, biassed or hateful, and give the user an opportunity to rephrase, remove or rebalance the content.”

THE FUTURE

While GhostPosts currently uses ChatGPT for the basis of its conversions, the ambition is for it to be backed by its own AI model to support future investment, growth and the expansion of the team.

Liam said: “GhostPosts is a project that has unlocked an incredible amount of innovation potential. We are going off in many different directions: empowering businesses to do digital ethically and sustainably; creating research which never existed before; and forging countless connections across the region with people and organisations who share my passion for democratising technology.”

THE IMPACT

GhostPosts is just one example of many businesses, across all sectors, that Lancaster University is helping to approach digital innovation for growth, stability and security through its Cyber Works initiatives.

Liam said: “We often look at universities as these silos of academia, when in fact they play a fundamental role in linking research and development to real world application. Lancaster University has gone above and beyond to support my ideas. Without Rebecca, the academics and students, GhostPosts wouldn’t be taking the shape it is.”

Dr Robinson said: “Liam is a unique and talented individual on a mission to share his tech know-how with businesses. It has been fantastic supporting the development of his GhostPosts venture through genuinely groundbreaking research.

“This is a great example of how Lancaster University can support a business from start-up to scale up, creating a link between academic knowledge and the practical application into industry, accelerating their growth and impact, while having a positive impact on the world.”

EMPOWER YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE CENTRE FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION: A FULLY FUNDED PROGRAMME FROM LANCASTER UNIVERSITY

As digital technologies continue to disrupt all sectors, the ability to innovate and adapt has never been more critical. For businesses across the North West, the Centre for Digital Innovation from Cyber Works at Lancaster University offers a unique, fully funded opportunity to harness the power of digital transformation.

CENTRE FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION

The Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI) is an Innovate UK-funded programme designed to support businesses to navigate the complex world of digital technology. We understand that digital innovation is not just about adopting the latest technology; it’s about strategically embedding these innovations to transform your business, ensuring the technologies are secure against cyber threats, helping overcome business challenges, and achieve long-term growth.

Whether you’re a small enterprise looking to optimise your operations or a larger organisation seeking to lead your industry, CDI provides the resources, expertise, and support you need to succeed. With CDI, you can take the latest research outcomes and explore cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, industrial digitalisation, and immersive technology, all within a supportive and collaborative environment.

WHY DIGITAL INNOVATION MATTERS

Digital innovation is the key to exploring new opportunities and staying competitive in today’s rapidly-changing world. Technical innovation is no longer optional but has become an essential part of daily business operations. Digital tools and technologies can drive efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and create new revenue streams.

TRANSFORMING YOUR BUSINESS WITH CDI

CDI offers a comprehensive range of support that is designed to be accessible and impactful, providing you with the tools and knowledge needed to drive meaningful change.

  1. Workshops and training: Our workshops are led by experts and designed to provide practical insights that you can apply directly to your business.
  2. Research and development: Whether you’re looking to prototype a new idea or optimise an existing process, our cutting-edge R&D facilities and expertise can help bring your innovations to life.
  3. Technical support: From software development to cyber security assessments, we provide the technical expertise you need to ensure successful implementation.
  4. Networking and collaboration: CDI connects you with a network of industry leaders, academic experts, and other businesses. This collaborative environment fosters knowledge sharing, partnership opportunities, and the creation of new supply chains.
  5. Staff training and development: CDI offers a skills platform to upskill your staff, to ensure they have the knowledge and capabilities to leverage new technologies effectively.

UNPARALLELED INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

Funded through the £100m Government Innovation Accelerator, CDI is made up of a consortium of academic and industry partners.Manchester Metropolitan University is lead, alongside the universities of Manchester, Salford and Lancaster, the Greater Manchester Colleges Group and industry partners including IBM, CISCO, and Barclays, among others. These industry partnerships provide CDI participants with unique opportunities to collaborate with some of the most influential companies in the world.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES WITH CDI

This fully funded programme is open to businesses across the North West, regardless of size or industry. Whether you’re just starting your digital journey or looking to scale your existing innovations, CDI can help you achieve your goals through a range of workshops and events.

Develop cyber resilience and implement strategies to help your businesses defend, innovate and grow through our upcoming workshops.

Find out more and contact us on cyberworks@lancaster.ac.uk.Centre for Digital Innovation project logos: Innovate UK, Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Manchester, University of Salford, Lancaster University and Greater Manchester Colleges

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