Informatics: AIAI: Foundations and Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Automated Reasoning, Agents, Data Intensive Research PhD

University of Edinburgh

At the Artificial Intelligence and its Applications Institute, we enable computer systems to reproduce and complement human abilities, work with people, and support collaboration between humans. We conduct world-leading research in the foundations of Artificial Intelligence (for example, in knowledge representation and reasoning, emergence of meaning, theory and ontology change, creativity, computer-based proof) and its applications to intelligent systems (for example, autonomous and multi-agent systems, social computation, scientific collaboration platforms, web semantics and linked data).

Our research methods focus on the development of models of knowledge, reasoning, and interaction that can be used to understand and automate aspects of human and machine intelligence, but are also understandable and usable to the designers and users of AI systems in order to address broader issues such as fairness, accountability, transparency and safety.

To achieve this, we combine theoretical research into AI models, architectures and algorithms with a strong element of applied research. This has led to a strong track record in using our methods to address real-world problems in healthcare, scientific collaboration, social computing, emergency systems, transportation, engineering, aerospace and others.

Career opportunities

While your research studies are a perfect route to a career in academia, your degree could also take you into the commercial world of applied AI and collaborative systems. Software developers using AI technologies are among those who rely on the insights of our research. NASA and animation company Pixar are just two of the organisations that have recently employed our graduates.