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prg.ai newsletter #50

The 50th issue of our newsletter is here! This time we focus on the practical use of artificial intelligence in business, introduce a new micro-certification course for business leaders, and take a look under the hood of the newly accredited prg.ai Master program. There will also be news from prg.ai, including a welcome to a new partner and invitations to a number of exciting events.

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🔥 AI at the heart of the action

New AI Micro-Certification Course for Business Leaders

 

Elevate your business with artificial intelligence! We are key partners in a new micro-certification course focused on AI for business leaders, developed in collaboration with CTU FEE and the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies at CTU. The program connects leading academics with experts from Blindspot Solutions, DataSentics, Gen, Make HQ, and The Mama AI, who will share their practical implementation experiences. Learn strategic AI decision-making, discover its applications in HR, and gain essential technological foundations. Earn a micro-certificate upon completion. The course will take place May 26–29 in Prague and is designed for managers and HR professionals.

New prg.ai Master program opens the door to the world of AI

On Thursday, April 10 at 15:00, an online open day will be held for the newly accredited prg.ai Master program, which offers a unique opportunity to study cutting-edge AI technologies. This interdisciplinary programme builds on the successful prg.ai Minor and combines theoretical learning with practical applications, with an emphasis on AI ethics and safety. Teaching is conducted in English under the guidance of experts from FEE CTU, CIIRC and FSV UK. Applications are due by April 30.

Introducing the Digital Social Science Doctoral Program

Charles University launches Digital Social Sciences, its first interdisciplinary and cross-institutional doctoral program connecting the Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. The program offers a stimulating environment with numerous research and teaching opportunities. It aims to prepare highly qualified specialists to address pressing issues related to societal digitalization. The research-oriented program includes methodological training, publication requirements, and opportunities to engage in teaching and research projects. Applications are due by April 30.

NVIDIA GTC 2025 Watch: AI World Innovations Unveiled

In collaboration with M-computers, we hosted the NVIDIA GTC 2025 Watch event at Kampus Hybernská. The gathering brought together experts, startup representatives, and AI enthusiasts to explore the most significant announcements from the premier AI conference, NVIDIA GTC 2025.

🏡 What’s new at prg․ai

New partners

We’re happy to welcome two new partners! First, Livesport, the provider of the fastest sports information, joins us. The company utilizes AI and machine learning in several areas. Their BI team focuses on enhancing and cleaning data using Vertex AI and BigQuery, including a system for resolving regional locations and AI categorization of Google Search Console data. They also leverage statistical models for a recommendation engine in their mobile applications.

Our second new partner is PwC, a company with over three decades of experience in the Czech market, offering its clients top-tier solutions in audit, tax, legal, and consulting, encompassing technologies, mergers, sustainability, and cybersecurity. This long-standing presence has allowed them to establish strong, trust-based relationships with clients, becoming a reliable partner in their day-to-day management and in defining and implementing long-term visions.

Seventh Cohort prg․ai Minor

We’ve had another round of applications for our AI-focused intercollegiate program! Out of 175 applicants, 66 male and female students will be studying AI. Compared to the last cohort (114 applicants), interest has increased by 53%. Overall, we have 311 students accepted and 74 graduates. Students can look forward to industry talks, like the recent one on using satellite data with Michal Reinstein and Petr Mácha from SpaceKnow. They presented the SpaceKnow Guardian platform for geospatial analysis using AI, cloud computing, and data from over 300 satellites. The technology monitors Earth from defense to environmental monitoring.

Where we met

At the Truesdays meetup we presented the topic of artificial intelligence and its real-world applications as event partners. Our colleague Lenka Kučerová moderated the panel discussion titled Cutting Through the AI Noise: Building Global Tech from Prague. Experts from Apify and Make shared their experiences with using automation and AI for global success. The discussion provided an honest look at what works in the AI business.

Our Lukáš Kačena took part in many events in March. The first of them was the Digital Czech Republic conference, where he actively participated in a panel discussion entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Automation. In particular, he shared our views on the future of work in the AI era.

He also attended a launch event to a new AI research program under the Academy of Sciences’ AV21 Strategy. This establishes an academic AI hub linking 27 research institutes. It is already certain that our goals will be complementary, enabling joint support for AI research and its societal impact.

Another meeting of the AI Committee at the Ministry of Industry and Trade was held to open a discussion about organized and focused AI specialization at the national level. It is crucial for Czechia to concentrate on a narrow “niche,” similar to Taiwan’s approach to chip manufacturing. The upcoming Apply AI Strategy from the EU, focusing on key sectors, can serve as inspiration. A debate among Czech stakeholders about the appropriate specialization is essential.

Lukáš was also one of the judges of the E2B Hackathon, which brought together students, companies and innovators to solve real business challenges through technology and data. Lukáš judged projects focused on the practical application of AI, data analytics and digital solutions, and contributed his expert perspective on bridging academia and commerce.

Where to meet us

We are part of the first Czech hackathon against cancer – RAKATHON 2025! Every day in the Czech Republic, over 200 people hear the diagnosis of cancer. RAKATHON will bring together developers, data enthusiasts, and medical experts to find innovative solutions to oncological challenges. You will collaborate with oncologists from FN Motol and the 2nd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, and experience 48 hours of innovation, mentorship, and teamwork. You can register individually or in a team. The best teams will receive 150,000 CZK. The hackathon takes place from April 11–13, 2025 at the Kampus Plzeňská in Prague.

The Center for Environmental and Technology Ethics – Prague (CETE-P), in collaboration with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and us, is organizing a discussion on the future of AI in Czechia on April 22, 2025, in Prague. The aim is to map the Czech AI ecosystem, identify its challenges, and contextualize it within the EU’s objectives. The event will be attended by policymakers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and young talent. Speakers will include Robert Praas (CEPS), Lenka Kučerová (prg.ai), Kateřina Lesch (EmbedIT), and a representative from the Ministry.

We invite you to the ML Prague conference, one of the largest AI and machine learning events in Europe, which takes place from 28 to 30 April at the O2 Universum. Our partners Dataclair, who are a strategic partner of ML Prague, will be present with their workshop on synthetic data generation and the evolution of the AI tool Virtual Buddy. The last tickets are left, so don’t hesitate and take advantage of our 15% discount with the code prgai15. 

We’re also attending the Trendy Práce Summit 2024, taking place on 22 and 23 May. This two-day event connects leaders from HR, technology, and education to discuss the future of work in the age of digitalization and artificial intelligence. On the second day of the summit, our director, Lukáš Kačena, will be joined by one of our co-founders, Michal Pěchouček, in a panel discussion. We look forward to inspiring debates and networking with professionals shaping the future of the labor market.

We are also partners of the WebExpo conference, the leading Central European conference for web development, design, product management and marketing. Come and get inspired  on 28 and 29 May by top experts from all over the world and use our exclusive discount code PRGAI25 for a 20% discount on conference tickets and bundle ticket. 

👏 Local AI scene news that makes us proud

Closer to Sensitive Prosthetics and Robotic Assistants

Humanoid robots are taking another significant leap forward with the integration of artificial skin and tactile sensors. This innovation unlocks new possibilities for the development of more sensitive prosthetic limbs, potentially restoring the sense of touch and fine motor skills for individuals without hands. Simultaneously, the era of robots serving as effective helpers in factories or assistants for the elderly is drawing nearer, which will also accelerate the understanding of human brain development through interaction with such equipped machines.

We Are Heading Towards Machine Superintelligence

Jan Šedivý, Head of the Big Data and Cloud Computing Team at CIIRC, warns in an interview about the approaching machine superintelligence. The specialist in language model development discusses the direction of these models’ evolution, AI’s potential to solve global issues, the current level of language models, how they are trained, and their existing limitations.

FEE CTU scores points in the Werner von Siemens Prize

The students and academic staff of FEE CTU have confirmed their excellence by achieving outstanding success in the prestigious Werner von Siemens Prize 2024. This award highlights the best scientific and technical work of young talents in the Czech Republic.

New Master’s Program in Quantum Informatics

Are you fascinated by quantum technologies and eager to contribute to the revolution in computer science? FIT CTU is launching a new and unique Master’s program in Quantum Informatics for the 2025/2026 academic year. This innovative program addresses the growing importance of quantum technologies and prepares students for careers in quantum computing, algorithms, and security.

Blockchain Explained in the New Jedničky a Nuly Podcast Episode

Curious about the blockchain phenomenon? Tune in to the latest episode of the Faculty of Information Technology CTU podcast, Jedničky a Nuly! Jan Převrátil from FIT CTU explains how blockchain works, what problems it solves, and its connection to web development. You’ll also learn about smart contract audits and where to find blockchain education.

Institute Named After Professor Mařík Opens in India

The Marik Institute of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cybernetics (MICARC), a new institute focusing on artificial intelligence, computer science, and robotics, was officially opened at NIMS University in Jaipur, India. The institute is named after prominent Czech scientist Professor Vladimír Mařík, the founder of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics CTU (CIIRC). The NIMS AI-CON conference will also take place, hosting global experts. This event promises to be a key platform for discussing and shaping the future of AI.

CTU in Prestigious Amazon Nova AI Challenge

The AlquistCoder team consisting of researchers and students from CIIRC and FEE CTU was selected among ten universities worldwide to participate in the prestigious Amazon Nova AI Challenge. This global competition focuses on the development of safe and reliable artificial intelligence for assisted software development.

Facial Micro-expressions Reveal Emotions and Lies

Jiří Matas, Head of the Visual Recognition Group at the Department of Cybernetics of CTU, explains how subtle, involuntarily controlled facial changes, known as micro-expressions, can reveal our mood, feelings, and even attempts to lie. While the human eye often misses them, computer systems are capable of analyzing and evaluating them.

AI Can Help You Grow, You Just Need to Know How to Ask

In an interview with Rudolf Rosa from the Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics at Charles University, you will learn about the fascinating EduPo project, which aims to teach artificial intelligence to compose poetry for educational purposes. Rosa explains how they are training language models to generate poems and the didactic benefits of this interdisciplinary initiative for teaching Czech language. He also discusses the differences compared to the THEaiTRE project, where AI wrote a play, and the perspective of the poetry community on these experiments.

Czechs at Finals of Autonomous Drone Race in Abu Dhabi

A team of scientists from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at CTU and the Fly4Future startup has reached the finals of the prestigious Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) championship in Abu Dhabi. Competing against 210 teams from around the world, they will participate for the first time in a race of autonomous drones reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h and 7G of acceleration. The motivation for Martin Saska, head of the Multi-robotic Systems Group at CTU FEE, is the opportunity to advance basic and applied research in the field of high-speed flying robots and their industrial applications, including aiding firefighters and paramedics.

From Poker to Google to Wall Street

Martin Schmid and his team first developed AI that defeated top professional poker players, their project DeepStack was acquired by Google, and now they are setting their sights on the New York Stock Exchange from Prague. They are leveraging their experience in creating self-learning algorithms from the gaming world for algorithmic trading. Schmid recounts his journey from playing illegal online poker during his studies at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, through the groundbreaking success of DeepStack, to building the cutting-edge trading firm EquiLibre. His ambition is to succeed on global stock exchanges using unique algorithms, demonstrating how Czech expertise can make a mark in the world of finance.

Three Generations of Mathematical Linguistics

Delve into the history and present state of mathematical linguistics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University through an interview with three generations of linguists from the Hajič family. The legendary Professor Eva Hajičová, Professor Jan Hajič, and Doctor Jan Hajič junior share their personal journeys into the field, key moments in science and research, teaching experiences, and perspectives on the future of this dynamic discipline.

Bernard Bolzano Endowment Fund Award

For over two decades, the Bernard Bolzano Foundation Fund has been recognizing young scientists who achieve extraordinary results. One of the laureates of the 2024 annual awards is Dr. Emil Svoboda, who works at the Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University.

Successes in Silicon Valley

Apify is actively pursuing its mission in Silicon Valley, hosting engaging events focused on artificial intelligence and building a thriving community of experts. Be sure to follow their Luma calendar to stay updated on all their events, whether they are taking place in Europe or America.

AI Assistant for Kotlin Developers Arrives in Android Studio

Kotlin developers can now enhance their workflows in Android Studio with the new JetBrains AI Assistant plugin, which is now available in Beta. This plugin offers AI-powered coding assistance, including code suggestions, AI-driven explanations, refactorings, commit message generation, and more – all within Android Studio.

AI Dynamic Pricing Boosts Revenue by Dozens of Percent

DataSentics has assisted Dr.Max, the second largest pharmacy chain in Europe, in implementing an AI-powered dynamic pricing solution. By taking into account crucial factors such as competitor pricing, market share, and product characteristics, Dr.Max achieved a revenue increase of 36% in the pilot country and a sustained increase of over 12% in other countries. DataSentics is leading the way in business transformation through artificial intelligence. From data analysis to product personalization, DataSentics helps companies across industries leverage the power of AI to optimize processes, enhance customer satisfaction, and increase profits.

Summer Internship Opportunities for Students

Gen is offering summer internship opportunities for students. These approximately three-month projects will allow participants to work in teams under the guidance of experts and achieve tangible outcomes. Livesport also offers summer internships in several departments. Interns can experience, for example, preparing data for predicting key metrics, building predictive models or performing advanced statistical dependency analyses.

AI Can Boost GDP by Five Percent

František Štrupl, the new head of Czech Google, sees a tremendous opportunity for economic growth in artificial intelligence. In an interview, he emphasizes that AI could potentially increase the Czech GDP by up to five percent. This endurance cyclist and technology leader, with techno-optimism, discusses the innovations and transformations brought about by AI and his efforts to bring the Silicon Valley dynamism to Google in Prague.

EY.ai Agentic Platform Launched

EY is launching the EY.ai Agentic Platform, created with NVIDIA AI. This platform aims to drive significant transformation across multiple sectors, with an initial focus on the tax, risk, and finance domains.

🎭 Events we’re excited about

You can find all the events we find interesting in our Google Calendar.

 

🧩 Stuff that interests us

Cloakspeech from Olomouc Detects Fake Profiles on Social Networks

The Cloakspeech tool from Olomouc University, developed by linguists from Palacký University and implemented with Relspeek, can identify and mimic a person’s speaking style and hide its AI origin. It helps reveal authors of hate posts and fake profiles, and create personalized messages in advertising and campaigns.

Real Estate Cadastre Digitalization

The real estate cadastre in the Czech Republic is fully digital. Digitalization speeds up processes like property transfers. The state launched a new portal for easier data search. Paper archives end, the goal is transparency and information accessibility. Personal contact remains for some tasks.

Czech AI Music Teacher Aims to Conquer the World

Czech startup ArtMaster is developing the AI music teacher Artie. After securing further investment, Artie is set to start giving lessons in July. The application combines the benefits of online courses and individual lessons. The startup aims to make Artie a success in America and Asia.

📢 Community calls

Investing in the EU’s Digital Future

The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is an EU funding initiative dedicated to bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens, and public administrations. With a budget exceeding €8.1 billion, it supports projects in crucial areas such as supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and the widespread adoption of digital technologies. The program addresses the challenges of digital transformation and strengthens Europe’s digital sovereignty. It complements other EU programs and is part of the STEP initiative to enhance EU competitiveness. Check out the funding possibilities.

Final Call for Technology Incubation Project

CzechInvest has announced the final call for the Technology Incubation project, which supports innovative companies through 7 specialized hubs. The sixth call has an allocation of 44.8 million CZK, and companies can apply from March 17 to April 16. The program combines financial and non-financial support for startups in 7 areas, including AI, mobility, and creative industries. Support is intended for young entrepreneurs and scientists seeking to commercialize research. The 44.8 million CZK allocation allows for the incubation of approximately 30 startups with support of up to 1.6 million CZK.

Defence Innovation: EUDIS Hackathon in Prague

Prague will be the heart of the innovation of the Defence. From 3. to 5. may 2024, the Hackathon EUDIS Czech Republic is going to take place, this action is being organized under the patronage of European defence innovation network (EUDIS). Students, researchers, startups, and developers can engage in the solving of the actual challenges in the area of defence technologies, such as cybernetic security, protection of infrastructure, or using of artificial intelligence. The best teams will gain the option of collaboration with european institutions and access to finance. 

ELIAS opens the door to innovation in language AI

The European ELIAS project has launched an open call for start-ups, SMEs and research organisations from across the EU, targeting in particular projects in the field of artificial intelligence that focus on methodologies, software, tools and benchmarks to support sustainability. Successful projects can receive up to €60,000, access to data and expert support. The deadline for applications is 30 April.

💼 Open job positions

Artificial Intelligence Center FEE CTU

CIIRC

CETE-P

Apify

Blindspot AI

Datamole

DataSentics

ententee

Make

MAMA AI

Qminers

Recombee

Rossum

Aricoma

EY

Equilibre Technologies

ČEPS

Dataclair O2

JetBrains

MSD

PwC

 

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