̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence

Opinion: Humans should be at the heart of AI

lw355 — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:48:27 +0000

With the right development and application, AI could become a transformative force for good. What's missing in current technologies is human insight, says Anna Korhonen.

Cambridge launches Institute for Technology and Humanity

fpjl2 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:13:02 +0000

A major interdisciplinary initiative has been launched that aims to meet the challenges and opportunities of new technologies as they emerge, today and far into the future.

Cambridge and Google partner to facilitate AI research

hcf38 — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 07:54:22 +0000

̽��ֱ��new multi-year research agreement creates the potential for researchers and scientists from Google and the ̽��ֱ�� to more closely collaborate on foundational AI research projects in areas of shared interest across a range of disciplines, including climate and sustainability, and AI ethics and safety.

Google has also become the first funding partner for the university’s Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence (CHIA), led by Professor Anna Korhonen, Professor Per Ola Kristensson and Dr. John Suckling, bringing together researchers and experts from computer science, engineering and multiple disciplines to develop AI that is grounded in human values and benefits humanity. Google’s unrestricted grant is helping enable the Centre’s AI research in areas like responsible AI, human-centred robotics, human-machine interaction, healthcare, economic sustainability and climate change. ̽��ֱ��donation is also funding students from underrepresented groups to carry out PhDs within the CHIA to help broaden diversity in the AI research community.

̽��ֱ��expanded partnership builds on years of collaboration between Google Research, Google DeepMind and the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge. Google provides funding for academic research, facilitates collaboration between faculty and Google researchers, and supports exceptional computer science students through its PhD Fellowship Programme. Google DeepMind funds scholarships for students from underrepresented backgrounds studying AI-related fields, as well as a postdoctoral Fellowship, to help build a stronger and more inclusive AI community. Google DeepMind also endowed the first DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology to help drive its machine learning and artificial intelligence research.

Matt Brittin, President of Google EMEA and ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge alumnus, commented: “AI has huge potential to benefit people across the world - whether it’s through making daily life that bit easier, or by tackling some of society’s biggest challenges. It’s vital that we work together to seize this opportunity. By collaborating with one of our world-leading British academic institutions, we can enable AI research that is bold, responsible and designed to meet the needs of people across the country. This partnership also reaffirms Google’s commitment to the UK as a global AI and technology leader.”

Jessica Montgomery, Director of ai@cam, the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge’s flagship mission on artificial intelligence, commented: “ ̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge can be an engine for AI innovation and a steward of advancements in this exciting field. Translating advances in AI to benefits for science, citizens, and society requires interdisciplinary research that is deeply connected to real-word needs. ̽��ֱ��research collaboration agreement announced today will support research activities across the ̽��ֱ��. We want to leverage the world-leading expertise found across the ̽��ֱ�� to enable exciting new advances in responsible AI.”

Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, added: "Artificial intelligence can offer us enormous opportunities - growing the economy, creating new jobs and making lives longer, healthier and happier for British people. To seize those opportunities, we must bring together insights from business and academia to encourage the safe and responsible development of AI. That is why we are welcoming the partnership which Google and the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge have announced today.

As we prepare for next month's AI Safety Summit, this partnership shows that the UK - home to world-leading research facilities as well as some of the biggest tech companies in the world - is perfectly placed to support the innovation that underpins this critical technology."

Professor Anna Korhonen, Director of CHIA, said: “Here at the Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence our researchers are dedicated to making sure that people are put at the very heart of new developments in AI. As our first funding partner, Google has been with us from the start of our journey, helping enable the breakthrough interdisciplinary research that we do. Partnerships like this – between academia and industry – will continue to be vital for the successful development of human-inspired AI.”

Zoubin Ghahramani, VP, Research, Google DeepMind is a Professor of Information Engineering at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and has spearheaded this expanded partnership. He commented: “Google and the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge share a deep commitment to developing AI responsibly, which means grounding innovation in scientific research, human values and our AI principles. We’re excited by CHIA’s potential to set new standards in responsible and human-centric AI development, and unlock AI discoveries that could benefit everyone.”

A recent report, commissioned by Google and compiled by Public First, quantified the opportunity AI presents to enhance the lives and businesses of everyone across the UK. It found AI-powered innovation could create over £400 billion in economic value for the UK economy by 2030. To ensure everyone can tap into that potential, regardless of whether they’re in higher education, Google has launched free training to offer people and businesses practical skills and knowledge to capture the benefits of AI.

̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and Google are building on their long-standing partnership with a multi-year research collaboration agreement and a Google grant for the ̽��ֱ��’s new Centre for Human-Inspired AI to support progress in responsible AI that is inspired by and benefits people.

Cambridge FilmWorks

Research underway in the Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence

How AI can help people with motor disabilities — like my cousin

“My cousin was the victim of a brutal attack, and left with life-changing injuries – but with AI technology, we aim to empower people like her.”

Aleesha Hamid, a PhD student at the Cambridge Centre for Human-Inspired AI, blogs on the Google website about why her research aims to make a real difference to people like her cousin, who was left with a traumatic brain injury and uses technology to communicate.

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright © ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

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Cambridge research centre puts people at the heart of AI

cjb250 — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 07:00:51 +0000

̽��ֱ��Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence (CHIA) brings together researchers from engineering and mathematics, philosophy and social sciences; a broad range of disciplines to investigate how human and machine intelligence can be combined in technologies that best contribute to social and global progress.

Anna Korhonen, Director of CHIA and Professor of Natural Language Processing, said: “We know from history that new technologies can drive changes with both positive and negative consequences, and this will likely be the case for AI. ̽��ֱ��goal of our new Centre is to put humans at the centre of every stage of AI development – basic research, application, commercialisation and policymaking – to help ensure AI benefits everyone."

Artificial intelligence is a rapidly developing technology predicted to transform much of our society. While AI has the potential to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems in healthcare, education, climate science and economic sustainability it will need to embrace its human origins to become responsible, transparent and inclusive.

Per-Ola Kristensson, Co-director of CHIA and Professor of Interactive Systems Engineering, said: “For true progress and real-life impact it’s critical to nurture a close engagement with industry, policy makers, non-governmental organisations and civil society. Few universities in the world can rival the breadth and depth of Cambridge making us ideally positioned to make these connections and engage with the communities who face the greatest impact from AI.”

Designed to deliver both academic and real-world impact, CHIA seeks partners in academic, industrial, third-sector and other organizations that share an interest in promoting human-inspired AI.

John Suckling, Co-director of CHIA and Director of Research in Psychiatric Neuroimaging, said: “Our students will be educated in an interdisciplinary environment with access to experts in the technical, ethical, human and industrial aspects of AI. Early-career researchers will be part of all our activities. We are committed to inclusivity and diversity as a way of delivering robust and practical outcomes.”

CHIA will educate the next generation of AI creators and leaders, with dedicated graduate training in human-inspired AI.

Professor Mark Girolami from the Department of Engineering, said: “As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly pervasive, it’s critical to align its development with societal interests. This new ̽��ֱ��-wide Centre will explore a human-centric approach to the development of AI to ensure beneficial outcomes for society. Cambridge's depth of expertise in AI and a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration make it an ideal home for CHIA.”

Apart from research and education, the CHIA will also host seminars, public events and international conferences to raise awareness of human-inspired AI. Forums will be convened around topics of ethical or societal concern with representation from all stakeholders.

Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, said: “If we’re to ensure that AI works for everyone and does not widen inequalities, then we need to place people at its heart and consider the societal and ethical implications alongside its development. Cambridge, with its ability to draw on researchers across multiple disciplines, is uniquely positioned to be able to lead in this area.”

Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning, added: “Artificial intelligence is provoking new questions in our societies. It’s vital that we deliver the answers in a people-centric manner. ̽��ֱ��Centre in Human-Inspired AI will provide a new interdisciplinary hub that delivers the solutions for these challenges.”

̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge today launches a new research centre dedicated to exploring the possibilities of a world shared by both humans and machines with artificial intelligence (AI).

Introducing ̽��ֱ��Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence

Olemedia (Getty Images)

Illustration representing artificial intelligence

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright © ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

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