# Citizen-Centric AI Systems (CCAIS)

> CCAIS is a research group at the University of Southampton, led by Professor Sebastian Stein and funded by a five-year UKRI Turing AI Acceleration Fellowship. It develops the fundamental science needed to build AI systems that citizens can trust — systems that put people at their heart, act in their interest, use incentives responsibly, and keep citizens in a feedback loop so they can audit and shape the decisions taken.

Research themes: citizen-centric AI, multi-agent systems, mechanism design, trustworthy and explainable AI, and fairness, with application areas in smart energy, smart transportation, buildings, and disaster response. The website is static HTML, so every page linked below is fully readable without running JavaScript.

## About

- [About CCAIS](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/about-us/): the group, its research challenges and achievements
- [Vision](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/about-us/vision/): the vision for trustworthy, citizen-centric AI
- [Applications](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/about-us/applications/): smart energy, smart transportation and disaster response
- [Our team](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/about-us/our-team/): the full team
- [Our partners](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/about-us/our-partners/): industrial and academic partners

## Projects

- [AI for Decision-Making under Behavioural Feedback](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/ai-for-decision-making-with-feedback/): Many real-world AI systems influence the behaviour of the people they serve. In EV charging networks, for…
- [AI-Supported Decision Optimisation for Grid-Independent EV Charging Stations](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/grid-independent-ev-charging-stations/): As electric vehicles become increasingly integrated into everyday life, an important question is becoming…
- [School Choice with Transportation](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/school-choice-with-transportation/): Many countries once adopted comprehensive school systems where students attended their local school, aiming…
- [Building Physics for Low-Carbon Comfort using Artificial Intelligence](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/building-physics-for-low-carbon-comfort/): For roughly a third of the workday, a portion of the professional UK workforce spends their time in an…
- [Generative Occupants: LLM Agents for Building Energy Simulation](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/generative-occupants-llm-agents-for-building-simulation/): A building's energy use depends enormously on the people inside it — when they arrive, whether they open a…
- [Citizen-Centric AI for Resilient IoT Systems (CAIR)](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/citizen-centric-ai-for-resilient-iot-systems-cair/): CAIR is a local, preference-aware smart-home assistant that turns everyday, loosely structured requests—such…
- [Facilitating Automated Online Consensus Building through Parallel Thinking](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/facilitating-automated-online-consensus-building-through-parallel-thinking/): Consensus building is inherently challenging due to the diverse opinions held by stakeholders. Effective…
- [LBKT: A LSTM BERT-based Knowledge Tracing Model for Long-Sequence Data](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/lbkt-a-lstm-bert-based-knowledge-tracing-model-for-long-sequence-data/): The field of Knowledge Tracing (KT) aims to understand how students learn and master knowledge over time by…
- [OneSight: A Unified Interface of Multi-Social Media Apps for DigitalWellbeing](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/onesight-a-unified-interface-of-multi-social-media-apps-for-digitalwellbeing/): The digital era has heralded unprecedented connectivity and information accessibil-
- [Towards Citizen-Centric Multiagent Systems Based on LargeLanguage Models](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/towards-citizen-centric-multiagent-systems-based-on-largelanguage-models/): The rapid evolution of Large Language Models (LLMs), exemplified by GPT-4, has ushered in a transformative…
- [HMCF: A Human-in-the-loop Multi-Robot Collaboration FrameworkBased on Large Language Models](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/hmcf-a-human-in-the-loop-multi-robot-collaboration-frameworkbased-on-large-language-models/): Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled robots to perform complex tasks autonomously…
- [Ethical Alignment of AI Systems](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/ethical-alignment-of-ai-systems/): This project focuses on the importance of ethical alignment in AI systems, particularly those designed with…
- [AI Otherwise](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/aiotherwise/): AI agents and assistants are increasingly being integrated into everyday life, and supporting…
- [EVtonomy](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/evtonomy/): Personalised Electric Vehicle Charging Stop Planning
- [Future Electric Vehicle Energy Networks supporting Renewables (FEVER)](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/future-electric-vehicle-energy-networks-supporting-renewables-fever/): Powering electric vehicles (EVs) for a sustainable future
- [Computational Responsibility for Trustworthy Citizen-Centric AI](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/computational-responsibility-for-trustworthy-citizen-centric-ai/): Developing methods to determine who is responsible for decisions made by or in collaboration with AI systems
- [Understanding and Developing Trustworthy Audio](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/projects/understanding-and-developing-trustworthy-audio/): Have you ever thought about how much audio data is really ‘out there’ on internet sites like YouTube,…

## News

- [CCAIS researchers present at BuildSys 2026](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/ccais-at-buildsys-2026/): Three CCAIS researchers - Jan Buermann, Luke Nicholas and Connor Watson — travelled to Banff, Canada for ACM…
- [CCAIS Researcher Presents to Parliament](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/ccais-researcher-presents-to-parliament/): Dr Sarah Kiden, Research Fellow in CCAIS and Responsible AI UK at the University of Southampton, was invited…
- [Best Demo Award at AAMAS 2025](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/best-demo-award-at-aamas-2025/): We’re excited to announce that CCAIS researchers have won the Best Demonstration Award at the 24th…
- [Are You Smarter Than AI? CCAIS at SOTSEF](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/are-you-smarter-than-ai-ccais-at-sotsef/): On 15th March, we participated in the Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF), which welcomes…
- [BBC News interview on electric cars](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/bbc-news-interview-on-electric-cars/): Prof Seb Stein is interviewed by BBC News
- [BBC interview on deepfakes](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/bbc-interview-on-deepfakes/): Dr Jennifer Williams talks to the BBC about deepfakes
- [Interspeech 2023 Overview](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/interspeech-2023-overview/): CCAIS academic Dr Jennifer Williams co-organises leading speech conference
- [Blue Sky Paper: Citizen-Centric Multiagent Systems](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/blue-sky-paper-citizen-centric-multiagent-systems/): A new Blue Sky paper “Citizen-Centric Multiagent Systems” from the CCAIS team advocates for AI systems that…
- [C-MAS Workshop](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/latest-news/c-mas-workshop/): First Workshop on Citizen-Centric Multiagent Systems

## Blog

- [Citizen-Centric Artificial Intelligence Systems Workshop 2025](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/uncategorised/citizen-centric-artificial-intelligence-systems-workshop-2025/): On January 30th, 2025, the CCAIS team hosted its annual workshop, continuing its efforts to engage…
- [Successful CCAIS Summer Internships 2023](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/uncategorised/successful-ccais-summer-internships-2023/): Over the summer, the CCAIS team hosted two undergraduate interns, both supervised by Dr Jennifer Williams.
- [Connected Places Catapult](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/uncategorised/connected-places-catapult/): Leading the Way in Sustainable AI Mobility for the UK
- [EVtonomy](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/uncategorised/evtonomy/): Personalised Routing for Electric Vehicle Drivers

## Outputs

- [Publications](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/outputs/publications/): peer-reviewed papers from the group
- [Open Sources Code](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/open-sources/open-sources-test/)
- [Impact](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/impacts/impact-test/): Please find CCAIS on Linkedin and Youtube.

## Team

### Researchers

- [Professor Sebastian Stein](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/sebastian-stein/): Principal Investigator - Citizen-Centric AI Systems
- [Professor Enrico Gerding](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/enrico-gerding/): Academic Collaborator - Mechanism Design, Privacy
- [Dr Stephanie Gauthier](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/stephanie-gauthier/): Academic Collaborator – Building Energy & Thermal Comfort
- [Dr Jennifer Williams](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/jennifer-williams/): Academic Collaborator – Audio AI and Applications
- [Dr Vahid Yazdanpanah](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/vahid-yazdanpanah/): Academic Collaborator - Responsibility, Ridesharing
- [Dr Jan Buermann](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/jan-buermann/): Postdoctoral Researcher – Incentives, Fair Allocation
- [Dr Sarah Kiden](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/sarah-kiden/): Postdoctoral Researcher – Trustworthy AI Systems
- [Dr Zhaoxing Li](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/zhaoxing-li/): Postdoctoral Researcher – Explainability, Human-AI Interaction
- [Dr Jayati Deshmukh](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/jayati-deshmukh/): Postdoctoral Researcher - Responsible AI
- [Dr Wen Gu](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/wen-gu/): Visiting Researcher - Agent-based systems
- [Dr Bruno Arcanjo](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/bruno-arcanjo/): Postdoctoral Researcher
- [Dr Ezhilarasi Periyathambi](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/ezhilarasi-periyathambi/): Postdoctoral Researcher

### PhD Students

- [Connor Watson](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/connor-watson/): Building Air Quality and Comfort Modelling
- [Fariba Dehghan](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/fariba-dehghan/): EV Charging Optimization
- [Yixuan Li](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/yixuan-li/): Algorithmic Game Theory for Electric Vehicle Charging
- [Jim Dilkes](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/jim-dilkes/): Trustworthy Human-AI Collaboration
- [Luke Nicholas](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/luke-nicholas/): AI for Sustainable Energy and Buildings
- [Andrew Poile](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/andrew-poile/): School Matching Mechanisms
- [Kiarash Kianian](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/kiarash-kianian/): Resource Allocation for Green Data Centres

### Research Engineers / Assistants

- [Alexandry Augustin](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/alexandry-augustin/): Smart Routing for Electric Vehicles
- [Lim Eu Jin](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/lim-eu-jin/): Large Language Models for Smart Home
- [Prokopis Georgiou](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/prokopis-georgiou/): EV ecosystem
- [Adrian Low](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/adrian-low/): Trustworthy AI agents

### PhD Graduates

- [Behrad Koohy](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/behrad-koohy/): Smart Routing for Connected / Autonomous Vehicles
- [Greg Sewell](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/greg-sewell/): Inter-generational Influences on Households' Heating Control
- [Jack Dymond](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/jack-dymond/): Progressive Intelligence
- [Dr Sukankana Chakraborty](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/sukankana-chakraborty/): Influence Maximisation. The Alan Turing Institute

### Alumni

- [Alexander Masterman](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/alexander-masterman/): Accessibility in Smart Transportation
- [Benjamin Lellouch](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/benjamin-lellouch/): Reinforcement Learning for Smart Energy Management. JPMorgan Chase & Co
- [Beining Zhang](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/beining-zhang/): AI for Facilitating Human Cooperation
- [Dr Elnaz Shafipour](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/elnaz-shafipour/): EV Routing. CEO, EVtonomy
- [Farida Yusuf](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/farida-yusuf/): Equitable Ridesharing Simulator. PhD Student, Queen Mary University of London
- [Gongwei (Alvin) Shi](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/gongwei-shi/): Human-Agent Interaction for Smart Energy Management
- [Hannah Phillips](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/hannah-phillips/): ENGAGE Intern Voice Modification
- [Harris Hadjiantonis](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/harris-hadjiantonis/): Trustworthy Recommender Systems. MSc Student, University of Edinburgh
- [James King](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/james-king/): Human-Agent Interaction. JPMorgan Chase & Co
- [Jovan Karlius](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/jovan-karlius/): Smart Routing for Electric Vehicles. Former Research Engineer / Assistant
- [Lewis Hill](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/lewis-hill/): Smart Routing for Electric Vehicles. Freelance Software Engineer
- [Lila Marshman](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/lila-marshman/): Smart Building Energy (EPSRC Vacation Intern). Undergraduate Student, University of Edinburgh
- [Lucia Cipolina Kun](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/lucia-cipolina-kun/): Coalition Formation for Equitable Ridesharing. PhD Student, University of Bristol
- [Mark Saunders](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/mark-saunders/): Augmented Reality Soundscapes
- [Matt Ivey](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/matt-ivey/): Incentive Compatible Ridesharing. Former Research Engineer / Assistant
- [Dr Mengya Liu](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/mengya-liu/): Multi-objective Optimisation for Equitable Ridesharing. Lenovo Research
- [Nicos Protopapas](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/nicos-protopapas/): Social Choice for Equitable Ridesharing
- [Zijie Liang](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/zijie-liang/): Game Designer for Serious Games
- [Ariq Adi Azuan](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/author/ariq-adi-azuan/): Research Assistant

## Optional

- [Contact CCAIS](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/contact-ccais/): email, phone and address
- [Join us](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/join-us/): PhD, internship, postdoc and collaboration opportunities
- [Partner with us](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/partner-with-us/): industrial collaboration
- [Seminar series](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/seminar-series/): monthly online seminar on citizen-centric AI
- [Search](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/search/): full-text site search
- [Sitemap](https://www.ccais.ac.uk/sitemap-index.xml): machine-readable list of all pages