Artificial intelligence (AI), known by some as the industrial revolution (IR) 4.0, is going to change not only the way we do things, how we relate to others, but also what we know about ourselves. Artificial Social Intelligence (ASI) is a field of artificial intelligence that focuses on enabling machines and AI systems to understand, interact, and behave in a socially intelligent and human-like manner.
The objective of this Ph.D. project is to explore and analyze the social and psychological implications of interacting with artificial social agents, such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI-driven avatars, on human behaviour and society. The methodology used will include: a) qualitative and quantitative data collection, b) experimental studies, c) longitudinal analysis, d) comparative analysis and other potential approaches.
The outcome of the project will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the social implications of AI and help guide the responsible development and deployment of artificial social agents. It can also inform policy and ethical considerations in the AI industry.
Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.
We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Psychology, Cyberpsychology, Human Computer Interaction, Cybersecurity.
Previous coursework or experience in machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and programming languages is desirable, although we do not expect students to have all of these.
You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.
Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.
Formal applications must be submitted through our form by 29th January 2025 for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Maria Bada AT m.bada@qmul.ac.uk Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements.
Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship with the support of the supervisor.
For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.
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