Ditto has turned University of Leeds research into an automated advisor bot that gives plain-speaking technical guidance with a high degree of accountability.

 Ditto AI, a UK-based artificial intelligence (AI) software developer based on University of Leeds research, closed a £4m ($5.6m) round yesterday from investors including commercialisation firm IP Group.

Parkwalk Advisors, the spinout-focused fund management firm owned by IP Group, also participated in the round, along with unspecified institutional and private investors.

Ditto has created a scalable software platform through which clients can implement an automated advisor bot that uses AI to offer technical guidance expressed in plain language and backed by human rationale.

The technology is intended to give users accurate and accessible advice on a par to human consultancy. Its ability to document the AI’s rationale facilitates operational audits, which has led to Ditto finding favour in the regulated environmental, health and safety (EHS) vertical.

Ditto plans to use the funding to diversify into the tax and healthcare segments, while also building its EHS market presence and enhancing the platform’s underlying technology.

The company has completed proof-of-concepts demonstrating the system’s utility in segments outside of EHS.

Parkwalk Advisors previously backed Ditto AI in 2013 and has invested in the spinout through three of its funds – Opportunities, UK Tech IV and ZeroND – though further details could not be ascertained.

IP Group previously revealed it held series B shares in Ditto AI as of June 2017.

Rick Turner, chief executive of Ditto, said: “People are increasingly concerned about a perceived lack of accountability in the field of AI and we believe our solutions, which provide clear audit trails, have an important part to play in addressing that problem.”