BT 'in artificial intelligence’ research

According to the research released at the Artificial Life XI conference, the firm believes giving more life-like abilities to its networks could allow them to self-regulate and fix faults, reports the BBC.

Paul Marrow, a former biologist now with BT's Broadband Applications Research Centre, said the telecommunications sector could develop innovative solutions if it looked to the natural world for inspiration.

Mr Marrow: "These artificial life ideas are a very useful source of inspiration as the products and services we provide become increasingly complex and demanding in terms of resources.

To achieve these aims, BT has been carrying out collaborative research with other organisations such as Telecom Italia to look at ways to give networks more autonomy and self-awareness, with hopes it will lead to them becoming self-organising.

Also at the event was Romsey-based Roke Manor Research, which showcased a robot to replace human workers in dangerous or dirty environments, according to the Hampshire Chronicle.