Artificial Intelligence
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Group pushes the boundaries of fundamental AI research and drives innovation across science, industry and society.
Research group focus
The AI group pioneers the development of theories, algorithms, and foundational and domain-specific models that help machines perceive and sense the world, communicate naturally, reason about dynamic environments, make informed decisions, and improve productivity.
Our research spans a broad spectrum of AI, including:
- Fundamental Advances in Machine Learning and Deep Learning
- Computer Vision and Image Processing
- Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, and Audio Processing
- Multimodal and Multi-task Learning, Embodied AI, and Robotics
- AI in Earth Observation
- Novel Computing: AI Hardware/Software Co-design, Neuromorphic Computing
Our work is powering innovations across data, science, engineering, and critical sectors including healthcare and the environment.
Research impact
We deliver world-leading, interdisciplinary impact across AI, data science and computational engineering, spanning digital healthcare, sustainable energy, environmental monitoring and earth observation. Across these, we develop trustworthy, data-driven solutions that support net-zero transitions, strengthen infrastructure resilience, promote industrial innovation and productivity gains, and advance health and life sciences. Our work also enables new capabilities in environmental monitoring and agriculture through the integration of sensing, satellite data, and AI. By working closely with industry, we turn AI advances into practical solutions that boost productivity, inform policy, and generate real-world impact.
Key collaborators
We collaborate with industry partners to develop and deploy AI solutions that address real-world challenges and evolving business needs. Examples of our industry collaborators include Northumbrian Water, P&G, Roche, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ryder Architecture, RBH NHS, Freeman Hospital, GSK, Lilly, Pfizer, Northern Gas Networks, ST Microelectronics, Airbus Defence and Space, Sage, Falcon Food, and Spotta.
Group members
Dr Huizhi (Elly) Liang (Group Leader)
Dr Wanqing Zhao (Group Leader)
Dr Tatiana Alvares-Sanches
Prof Jaume Bacardit
Dr Deepayan Bhowmik
Dr Matt Forshaw
Dr Vlad Gonzalez-Zelaya
Dr Chris Holder
Dr Dev Jha
Dr Jichun Li
Dr Huizhi (Elly) Liang
Dr Stephen McGough
Prof Boguslaw Obara
Dr Varun Ojha
Dr Tomasz Szydlo
Dr Tong Xin
Dr Mengwei Xu
Dr Wanqing Zhao