The company is investing in disruptive innovation and AI adoption
Toronto – November 16, 2023 – Unilever opened its new global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab “Horizon3 Labs” today in Toronto to accelerate the generation of new AI concepts, designs, and projects that can be scaled and shared across its business globally.
Unilever’s “Horizon3 Labs” represents an increase in technology investment that grew out of the company’s focus on the use of AI to increase productivity and efficiency. Currently, Unilever is using this technology across its business including Generative AI in its customer service and marketing, and advanced analytics and machine learning in supply chain and logistics.
“It is making a significant investment in developing and deploying AI technology across the business, and the launch of Unilever’s AI Lab will expedite the progress we are making globally and enable us to have the right focus on technology innovation,” said Andy Hill, Chief Data Officer, Unilever. “We are working to solve real-life problems through innovation, and setting up this lab in Toronto allows us to access vibrant tech talent and some of the best partners in the business to bring solutions to life.”
The Toronto Edge
“Horizon3 Labs” is strategically located in Toronto, which is recognized for its concentration of AI expertise across academia, start-ups and businesses. Unilever will look to benefit from the top-tier talent the city’s ecosystem offers.
“It is incredibly exciting that Toronto will be home to Unilever’s first and only global AI Lab,” said Gary Wade, President of Unilever Canada. “In selecting Toronto, we will be able to tap into one of the fastest growing AI superclusters in the world with access to best-in-class research facilities and world-class talent while also building off the collaborative power of academia, businesses and government.”
It worked closely with Toronto Global – the investment attraction agency for the Toronto Region – in choosing the location for “Horizon3 Labs.”
“As Canada’s AI powerhouse and the second fastest growing tech workforce in North America, there is no better place to host Unilever’s groundbreaking AI lab than the Toronto Region,” said Toronto Global CEO Stephen Lund. “This is truly a milestone investment for the Toronto Region tech ecosystem, cementing Toronto’s place as a global leader in AI innovation for years to come. We are so pleased we could help Unilever choose Toronto for this exciting project.”
AI-Powered Performance
The company currently has more than 400 applications of AI across disciplines including marketing, supply chain, and research and development. For example, Unilever currently has 50,000 ice cream freezers around the world that are AI-enabled to efficiently place the right product in the right freezer at the right time. The company also developed a bespoke AI solution that auto-updates product titles and descriptions on retail websites to respond to search trends to put relevant products in front of consumers.
The company, best known for its beloved brands such as Dove, Hellmann’s, and Knorr, is exploring data and analytics tools that unlock AI and machine learning across the value chain. The work done in Toronto will be incorporated across the business globally.
The “Horizon3 Labs” team will initially focus on prioritizing three areas of interest: forecasting, modelling complex data relationships with graph technology, and generating insights of trends, patterns, and predictions through AI. The projects will be structured to embed researchers from academia and other experts and partners.
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About Unilever Canada
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. We have 127,000 employees and generated sales of €60.1 billion in 2022.
Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business.
The Unilever Compass, our global sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while aiming to:
- improve the health of the planet;
- improve people’s health, confidence and wellbeing;
- and contribute to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.
Our leading brands in Canada include Dove, Hellmann’s, Vaseline, Degree, Axe, TRESemmé, SheaMoisture, Knorr, Breyers, Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s, Vim, OLLY, and Liquid I.V.
For more information on Unilever Canada and its brands visit: www.unilever.ca.
Unilever Media contact:
Toronto Global Media Contact:
Julia Sakas
[email protected]