Our research

Leading-edge AI research and innovation

Our research explores six key areas and programs to develop world-class artificial intelligence (AI) research and innovation.

Learn more about our research themes and the projects associated with our team members.

AI foundations and theories

This research program delves into the essential principles and theories that form the backbone of AI technologies. It seeks to deepen our understanding and develop robust theoretical frameworks that can lead to significant advancements in AI capabilities.

Research in this program spans:

• cognitive modelling
• information theory
• mathematical and statistical learning
• neuroscience approaches to AI
• new methodologies such as physics and nature inspired AI approaches
• optimisation.

Program leader: Professor Hanlin Shang

Learning hybrid intelligence

This research program focuses on blending human, data, natural, social and artificial intelligence to forge hybrid intelligence and systems. Research interest includes developing:

• hybrid intelligent symbiosis with human intelligence, data intelligence, natural intelligence and social intelligence
• hybrid intelligent paradigms for perception, communication, interaction, reasoning, reflection and intervention.

Program leader: Professor Longbing Cao

AI modelling and algorithms

This research program is dedicated to crafting cutting-edge AI models and algorithms, aiming to enhance smart decision-making and problem-solving across various system, data and environmental settings.

It encompasses a wide array of analytics, learning, reasoning and inference areas from:

• unsupervised to supervised
• unimodal to multimodal
• offline to online
• static to dynamic
• small to large-scale learning
• reinforcement learning and fine-tuning.

Program leader: Professor Mehmet Orgun

Transdisciplinary AI research

This research program focuses on the developments of AI across various scientific areas and business domains. It encourages interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary, pan-disciplinary research and collaboration to address complex, real-world problems and emerging opportunities across domains.

By integrating AI with domain-specific knowledge from areas such as finance, health and environmental science the program aims to develop AI technologies and solutions that are both innovative and practically applicable, fostering breakthroughs that can have broad societal impacts.

Program leader: Professor Michael Richardson

AI systems

This research program is geared towards the development and implementation of effective, robust, and scalable AI systems that are actionable for real-world problem-solving and applications.

It covers the creation and enhancement of:

• humanoid robots
• intelligent agents
• large language models
• metaverse AI
• other AI systems.

Research here is crucial for developing technologies and systems that can be seamlessly integrated into transforming industry, economy and society.

Program leader: Professor Deborah Richards

AI ethics and safety

As AI technologies become increasingly integral to various sectors, this research program addresses the critical ethical implications and safety concerns associated with AI deployment. The focus is on establishing rigorous standards and frameworks to ensure the development of ethical, responsible and trustworthy AI systems.

This includes exploring and quantifying issues of privacy, bias, fairness, transparency and accountability in AI technologies and systems to prevent adverse outcomes and promote beneficial uses.

Program leader: Professor Annabelle McIver