| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/Y030729/1 |
| Title: |
UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence |
| Principal Investigator: |
Lawson, Professor SW |
| Other Investigators: |
| Briggs, Professor P |
Woo, Professor W |
Yang, Professor L |
| Oswald, Dr M |
Sutton, Dr SJ |
Wilson, Professor RG |
| Gaver, Professor W |
Talhouk, Dr RR |
Montague, Dr K |
| Branley-Bell, Dr D |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Fac of Engineering and Environment |
| Organisation: |
Northumbria, University of |
| Scheme: |
Centre for Doctoral Training |
| Starts: |
01 April 2024 |
Ends: |
30 September 2032 |
Value (£): |
9,560,006
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Artificial Intelligence |
Science and Technology Studies |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Healthcare |
| Creative Industries |
Information Technologies |
| Education |
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| Related Grants: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the way people live and work. From education and healthcare to purchasing goods and services, AI is transforming daily life. However, much of the conversation about AI has been focused on the benefits to businesses and governments, rather than the impact on citizens. Such narratives suggest a vision where citizens play a passive role, on the periphery of AI developments and receiving trickle-down benefits, rather than occupying a central role as co-designers of a future AI-enabled society and economy. We argue that such a vision for AI is not yet sufficiently inclusive and, moreover, could result in systems and services that, at best, fail to realise opportunities for societal and individual good and, at worst, create harm, exacerbate mistrust in technology, and perpetuate existing and create new forms of inequalities and division. To reconcile the transformative potential of AI with citizens' concerns and rights, there is a need to build workforce capability to design AI systems that prioritize citizens' needs and aspirations.
Our Vision for the CDT in Citizen-Centred AI (CCAI) is to make AI "work for citizens" as well as government and businesses by foregrounding citizen engagement in the design, evaluation and governance of systems. CCAI will train at least 60 doctoral students in practical inter-disciplinary skills, centred around computer science and human-centred design, alongside regulation and governance theory, and richly supported by industry and community placements to contextualise students' research. It is built upon a foundational ethos of personal and professional development, underpinned by adherence to the UKRI New Deal for PGR. The CDT for CCAI which draws on Northumbria University's extensive track record for research in digital citizens and the digital economy, our innovative background in AI and software development education, and our rich heritage in design education.
The vision for the CDT is also co-founded on a place-based civic mission. The North East of England is marked by the worst statistics in England and Wales for unemployment, social mobility, low pay, rates of disability, household deprivation, health, child poverty, digital exclusion, and has relatively low educational attainment. Thus, our region has a high proportion of citizens who are, already, most vulnerable to potential negative effects of AI and whose voices are least likely to be heard in its design. The CDT for CCAI will provide place-based training that recognises and responds to these statistics, facilitating opportunities for student-led knowledge exchange for social and economic benefit. CCAI will also prioritize and embrace inter-disciplinarity and inclusivity in its research as well as its people and processes. Entry will be designed to accommodate a diversity of professional and disciplinary student backgrounds, career paths, and personal circumstances.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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