Interview with Ed Dixon, CEO and Founder of Bayezian 

The Bayezian team includes scientists, engineers, and ethicists who share the belief that artificial intelligence has the potential to improve humanity for the greater good. The organisation is committed to the application of artificial intelligence to advance science and benefit humanity. Founder and CEO Ed Dixon tells us more. 

Can you share with us the story behind the founding of Bayezian and what motivated you to start this company?

Bayezian combines academic excellence and industry expertise to inspire smart people to do amazing things with data. The primary reason I started the company back in 2020 was because of my background working in tech companies, where I noted that there was a real struggle to find good data scientists. In particular, I came across many graduates who weren’t being given suitable opportunities to get into data science roles. Through nurturing early careers, Bayezian allows them to be immediately hands-on and gain experience alongside some huge partners. 

According to your expertise, what are three common misconceptions or myths about AI that you believe people don’t need to worry about when it comes to getting into the field? 

A misconception that we see crop up a lot is that AI is a black box that we don’t understand. There is a mathematical theory behind all of the algorithms that, at a base level, isn’t too difficult to learn and interpret.  

The primary reason I started the company back in 2020 was because of my background working in tech companies, where I noted that there was a real struggle to find good data scientists.

Another one is that you have to have studied some sort of AI or data science subject at university to work in the field. We recruit graduates who have backgrounds in physics, economics, neuroscience, and more.  

And finally, people think that you need a powerful computer and complex coding experience to get started. This really isn’t true; there are tools like Google notebooks and AWS available to help get you started.  

Leveraging data science is key to building a more sustainable future. How do you think data science can be utilised to address sustainability challenges and contribute to environmental or social impact? 

There are many applications within sustainability for data science, from measuring and tracking power usage to become more efficient, to utilising computer vision on satellite images and webcams to track the changes in climate and animal movements. Ensuring that this happens just requires the right investment and realisation of capabilities.  

Socially, things like large language models (LLMs) can help people to communicate and use the internet who might otherwise struggle. However, we have to be careful that they are applied and trained in an ethical way. 

How do you ensure that the applications of AI in the life sciences industry, particularly in drug discovery and pharmaceuticals, adhere to ethical considerations and prioritise patient safety and well-being? 

For the foreseeable future, we have to maintain the rigorous trial and testing procedures that we have developed over many years to ensure patient safety. Only once we have enough data and experience using AI in life sciences might we consider streamlining these processes to improve speed and efficiency.  

The digital skills gap can be a significant barrier for individuals interested in pursuing a career in machine learning. What advice or resources would you recommend to someone looking to bridge this gap and enter the field of AI and machine learning? 

My main piece of advice would be to try not to get overwhelmed. If you have a good understanding of mathematics and statistics, you should be able to pick up the coding knowledge in time. I would also recommend finding some machine learning courses online, in addition to our in-house training our team have done, and recommend Jose Portilla’s courses on Udemy, which are very thorough.  

As the CEO of Bayezian, how do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the organisation, encouraging employees to push boundaries and explore new ideas?

At Bayezian, our youthful and talented team demonstrates the capability to tackle any challenge I present to them, given the appropriate assistance and support.

The main way we do this is through our “plus ones” or +One programme. This is when our employees can undertake any research project they are interested in, in order to pick up new skills and gain exposure to different challenges. We also try to keep the work fresh and, of course, encourage collaboration and sharing of ideas and knowledge. 

In your opinion, what are the most important qualities or traits that a leader should possess in the technology industry, particularly in the context of AI? 

The main thing is being agile and open to new challenges. At Bayezian, our youthful and talented team demonstrates the capability to tackle any challenge I present to them, given the appropriate assistance and support.  

Looking ahead, what do you believe are the most exciting and promising advancements or applications of AI and data science in the life sciences industry, and how do you see Bayezian contributing to those developments?

Use of computer vision in healthcare is going to be huge over the next decade or sooner. If implemented correctly, it should reduce the need for highly expensive trained professionals to carry out fairly standard procedures. This is important because there is a shortage of these workers, especially in the UK, where the NHS is really struggling to recruit enough staff. 

Implementation of LLMs and chatbots for healthcare will also be important and might hopefully reduce the number of calls to 111, for example, and perhaps even help with some GP visits. But the implementation will be difficult and we should certainly tread carefully. 

Executive Profile

Ed Dixon is the founder and CEO of Bayezian, a renowned AI research and applied AI company recognised for its industry expertise and academic excellence. With a strong emphasis on purposeful projects, Bayezian empowers clients through its research and with the right AI strategy and skills.  

Ed’s commitment to building lasting connections is paralleled by his passion for accelerating early careers, enabling individuals to reach their full potential by cultivating an influential presence as thought leaders to shape the future of AI.