Launch of our new courses

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Research using AI will allow dementia patients to live independently for longer

CHIA researchers are part of the newly funded BRIDGES for Dementia network, an initiative that will create innovative technologies to empower people with dementia to maintain independence and meaningful engagement with their communities. Funded by £6 million from UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, the network brings together experts from across disciplines to address key challenges in dementia care.
The network will explore four central themes:
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Indoor and outdoor spaces</li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">In-person and online communication</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Digital technology development and translation</li>
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These themes aim to promote agency and control for people with dementia, ensuring that technology enhances their engagement with the world and communities.  Additionally, the network prioritises equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), encouraging collaboration between patients, carers, researchers, and industry partners.
Led by Dr Jennifer MacRitchie and Professor Li Su from the University of Sheffield, BRIDGES brings together expertise across a number of fields, including medicine, public health,  language technologies, human-computer interaction, and design, among others.
&#8220;This is an important application of AI, one that requires us to put patient needs at the heart of technology development,&#8221; said Professor Anna Korhonen, Director of CHIA. &#8220;The network’s collaborative and human-centric approach will ensure that the AI tools can make a genuine difference.&#8221;
Dr Ulla Petti, researcher of AI ethics at CHIA, highlighted the importance of responsible development: &#8220;Tailoring the ethics of AI to the needs of the target communities is critical. Through this network, we can ensure that ethical considerations are embedded at every stage of the design process.&#8221;
In addition to the Universities of Sheffield and Cambridge, partner institutions in the BRIDGES network include Anglia Ruskin University, Lancaster University, London South Bank University, University College London, University of Kent, and University of Leicester, alongside Innovations in Dementia, Lewy Body Society, Dementia UK, Kent County Council, Sheffield City Council, and Bow Robotics.
To learn more about the BRIDGES network, <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/dementia/research">click here</a>

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We are hiring web (1)

We are now advertising for two Assistant Professors, 1 Teaching Associate and one Postgraduate Coordinator for our new Mphil and Phd in Human-Inspired AI

We&#8217;re excited to announce that CHIA will be launching an MPhil and a PhD in Human-Inspired AI, with our first intake planned for October 2025.
We are now advertising for various roles to contribute to the programmes:
Two Assistant Professors. Successful candidates to these positions will have core technical expertise in machine learning, human-computer interaction, computer vision, speech and/or natural language processing, robotics, mobile systems or another area of human-centred or human-facing AI. In addition to excellence in their area, we emphasise a proven ability to work interdisciplinarily with other disciplines that are central to the development of human-inspired AI. We are also looking for commitment to CHIA&#8217;s mission to develop AI that can contribute to social and global progress.
For full details and how to apply, see
<a href="https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47407/">https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47407/</a>
Deadline: 1 September, 2024
One Teaching Associate. The role holder will contribute to course development, teaching and examining for the MPhil. We welcome applications are welcome from PhD-holders who can demonstrate skills and subject matter expertise related to machine learning, human-computer interaction, computer vision, speech and/or language processing, robotics, mobile systems or another area of human-inspired AI.
For full details and how to apply, see
<a href="https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47788/">https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47788/</a>
Deadline: 30 September, 2024
One Postgraduate Coordinator. The focus of this role is to provide full administrative support and oversight of the complete educational programme at CHIA, which currently includes new PhD and MPhil courses in Human-inspired Artificial Intelligence (first cohort expected October 2025).
For full details and how to apply, see
<a href="https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47457/">https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47457/</a>
Deadline: 1 September, 2024

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CHIA has a new home within the University of Cambridge

We are pleased to announce that CHIA has moved homes within the University of Cambridge. Together with two other Centres &#8211; the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) and the <a href="http://lcfi.ac.uk">Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence</a> (CFI) &#8211; CHIA is now part of a new Institute: the <a href="https://ith.cam.ac.uk">Institute for Technology and Humanity</a> (ITH).
The institute will offer a home for the three centres as they continue work in their respective areas, along with a useful umbrella structure that allows integrating cross-centre strengths, facilitating synergies, and catalysing new collaborations where oppotunities arise. The Institute provide a structure that supports the centres in world-leading research and teaching that investigates and shapes technological transformations and the opportunities and challenges they pose for our societies, our environment and our world.  The breadth of research conducted spans the arts, humanities and social sciences alongside the natural, medical and technical sciences to address the great issues of our time.
At the Institute launch event the Vice-Chancellor of the University &#8211; Professor Deborah Prentice &#8211; said “the new institute demonstrates that the University of Cambridge is rising to this challenge of ensuring that human technologies do not exceed and overwhelm human capacities and human needs”.

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Google-funded PhD student Aleesha Hamid tells about her research at CHIA

Google&#8217;s support to CHIA is funding students from underrepresented groups to carry out PhDs within CHIA. <a href="http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/ah2242?field_user_surname_value_1=&amp;field_user_list_category_tid=All&amp;page=18&amp;utm_campaign=news&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;fbclid=IwAR2DNwobPwfI68n4e5pu0G71m0fxOqo3H5WFG_S-Ay3EBSM2aIdx8IlYDQQ">Aleesha Hamid</a> is one of those students. She has written <a href="https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/united-kingdom/ai-motor-disabilities/">a Google blog post</a> about her inspiring research on the development of AI for people with motor disabilities:
Five years ago, my cousin, a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life, faced a horrifying ordeal. She was brutally attacked and left with a traumatic brain injury and severe physical disabilities. Miraculously, she survived, but her life was forever altered. She suddenly found herself paralyzed and unable to speak. As she slowly regained cognitive function, we had to establish some channel of communication with her to understand her needs, thoughts and emotions.
The first glimmer of hope came from her eyes: she could gaze upwards to signify “yes”. Her neck muscles were weak, but she gradually began to direct her gaze intentionally to tell us what she wanted. It was at this stage in her journey that she was introduced to a computer equipped with gaze-interaction technology. Through eye-tracking, she was able to look towards certain letters on an on-screen keyboard to type words. But this was slow and tiring. With advancements in AI, there is huge potential to change this by making gaze detection faster and more accurate
The path to efficient communication was far from straightforward. It was often a frustrating and heart-wrenching process. For the technology to work, she had to focus on each letter for a period of time, but there were many times when her focus wavered, or her neck would not hold steady. The process was slow, involved lots of errors, and many attempts ended in distress.
My cousin’s struggle is not unique. For many people like her who have lost motor function due to injury, as well as those with neurological disorders such as Cerebral Palsy or Multiple Sclerosis, gaze interaction is the only possible means of effective communication. While assistive technologies such as eye-typing have transformative potential to change lives, even the best eye-typing systems currently report relatively slow text entry rates of around 7-20 words per minute (wpm) compared to typical speaking rates which range from 125-185 wpm. This is a striking gap and it highlights the need to keep improving assistive technologies to enhance the quality of life and empower all those individuals who rely on them to communicate.
This is what my research aims to address. The goal is to make communication efficient and accessible for the countless individuals with motor disabilities for whom these technologies can be a life-changing reality. By understanding how best to use AI, I want to reimagine how users can type efficiently using their eyes.
I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to pursue this through the support of Google and the Centre For Human Inspired Artificial Intelligence (CHIA) at the University of Cambridge. I began my Ph.D. earlier this year, under the supervision of Professor Per Ola Kristennson, whose seminal work on an AI-powered technique called ‘dwell-free’ eye-typing has opened up the possibility of a paradigm shift in the way these systems are designed.
A salient gap in progress of eye-typing systems is the lack of direct engagement with the end-users themselves. To understand their needs, wants, and barriers I have begun interviewing non-speaking individuals with motor disabilities that rely on eye-typing for their daily communications, enabling the design of technology that better allows eye-typing users to achieve their goals. This reflects the approach the CHIA is taking to AI innovation — placing the people who’ll be most impacted by AI at the heart of the development process. 
By enhancing gaze typing technology with AI, we aim to empower people, like my cousin, to express themselves, connect with the world, and regain a sense of independence

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Google funding will support CHIA&#8217;s research in responsible AI that is inspired by and benefits people

The University of Cambridge and Google are building on their long-standing partnership with a multi-year research collaboration agreement and a Google grant for the University’s new Centre for Human-Inspired AI to support progress in responsible AI that is inspired by and benefits people.
The new multi-year research agreement creates the potential for researchers and scientists from Google and the University 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. The donation is also funding students from underrepresented groups to carry out PhDs within the CHIA to help broaden diversity in the AI research community.
The expanded partnership builds on years of collaboration between Google Research, Google DeepMind and the University 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 University 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 University of Cambridge alum, commented: “AI has huge potential to benefit people across the world &#8211; 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 University of Cambridge’s flagship mission on artificial intelligence, commented: “The University 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. The research collaboration agreement announced today will support research activities across the University. We want to leverage the world-leading expertise found across the University to enable exciting new advances in responsible AI.”
Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, added: &#8220;Artificial intelligence can offer us enormous opportunities &#8211; 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 University of Cambridge have announced today.
As we prepare for next month&#8217;s AI Safety Summit, this partnership shows that the UK &#8211; home to world-leading research facilities as well as some of the biggest tech companies in the world &#8211; is perfectly placed to support the innovation that underpins this critical technology.&#8221;
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 University of Cambridge and has spearheaded this expanded partnership. He commented: “Google and the University 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.

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The Centre launch event showcased the diversity of research conducted within CHIA

The poster session held as part of the CHIA launch event featured a diversity of interdisciplinary research on human-inspired AI, from trustworthy AI medical devices to green-tuning of large language models and next generation eye typing interfaces, among many other topics.
To learn more about the research conducted within CHIA, please take a look at the Centre&#8217;s <a href="https://www.chia.cam.ac.uk/research">research programmes</a>.

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CHIA has celebrated its official launch in Cambridge

<blockquote>&#8220;We can’t always ensure new technologies will bring only positive changes, but with CHIA’s work we can put humans at the centre of every stage of AI development – basic research, application, commercialisation and policymaking – to help ensure the AI of the future benefits everyone.&#8221;
Professor Professor David Cardwell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Planning, University of Cambridge</blockquote>
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On Wednesday 8 February 2023 a special event was held to celebrate the official launch of CHIA together with representatives from the University of Cambridge and from the many sectors that CHIA is keen to work with.
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CHIA&#8217;s launch event programme
&#8211; Welcome remarks by Professor David Cardwell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Planning
&#8211; Overview of CHIA&#8217;s vision by the Centre Director Professor Anna Korhonen
&#8211; A speech by Professor Anne Ferguson Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and International Relations
&#8211; A panel discussion that reflected on the importance of partnerships in the development of AI, in particular those between academia and industry.
The panel, chaired Professor Andy Neely, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Relations, involved the following speakers:
<blockquote>Professor Zoubin Ghahramani, VP of Research at Google, lead of Google Brain, Professor of Information Engineering at the University of Cambridge
Professor Jenny Gibson, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge, an Associate Director of CHIA, a Chief Scientist, Mission Director at Nesta
Dr Cecily Morrison, MBE, Principal Research Manager at Microsoft Research in Cambridge
Dr Robert Vandersluis, VP of Artificial Intelligence at GSK</blockquote>
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&#8211; Closing remarks by Professor Andy Neely
&#8211; A lunch and poster session featuring the diversity of research conducted within our research programmes

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Cambridge Centre puts humans at the heart of AI

The University 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). 
The 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. The 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.&#8221;
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&#8230;
<a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/cambridge-research-centre-puts-people-at-the-heart-of-ai">READ MORE&#8230;</a>

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The Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence has launched

The University of Cambridge has established a new research centre dedicated to advancing human-inspired Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Recent years have seen transformative advances in AI. However, this technology must be equipped with a better understanding of the human intelligence, values and needs for it to truly benefit people and the world we live in.
The new Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence (CHIA) brings together an interdisciplinary community of researchers to investigate how human and machine intelligence can be combined to yield AI that can best contribute to social and global progress. It explores key interdisciplinary challenges, ranging from how to make fundamental technologies more intelligent and responsible to how AI can best assist humans in areas such as healthcare, education, climate science and economic sustainability.
Cambridge can make a unique contribution to the development of more human AI. The university has a long tradition in AI and is leading across the academic disciplines that are now critical for further development of AI, ranging from STEM subjects to humanities to social, cognitive, biological, medical and environmental sciences. The university is also well-connected to national and international AI initiatives and embedded within a vibrant community of commercial enterprise, providing an ideal environment for impactful research. 
One of our key aims is to educate the next generation of AI creators and leaders, with dedicated graduate training in human-inspired AI. 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 to deliver robust and practical outcomes.
Designed to deliver both academic and real-world impact, the Centre seeks to partner with academic, industrial, and other organizations that share an interest in promoting human-inspired AI.

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CHIA Courses

An MPhil and a PhD in Human-Inspired AI

We&#8217;re incredibly excited to announce the launch of CHIA&#8217;s new graduate programmes:
MPhil in Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence 
PhD in Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence
We have designed these courses to equip the next generation of AI researchers and leaders with the skills needed to develop human-centric, responsible and socially beneficial technologies.
Whether you&#8217;re looking to advance your career in academia, industry, policy or civil society, these courses will provide excellent training in the technical, ethical, applied and human aspects of AI.
Applications for courses commencing in October 2025 will open in September 2024. Information on the contents, requirements and how to apply will be provided at
https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses

News

Launch of our new courses

CHIA Joins BRIDGES Network to Develop AI Technologies Supporting Dementia Care

CHIA is hiring!

Launch of the Institute for Technology and Humanity

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

CHIA announces its first funding partnership with Google

Showcase of CHIA research

Official launch event

People at the heart of AI

CHIA has launched