AI and Society
AI is transforming our world. Through rigorous research, we ensure it transforms it for the better.
Artificial intelligence is transforming society, but developing powerful AI isn't enough—it must also be beneficial, transparent, and equitable. Our world-class faculty creates a responsible AI ecosystem where technological advances align with human values and societal goals, balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.
Significant challenges remain. We must understand how AI affects and shapes societal structures and human relationships, addressing questions of fairness, accountability, and transparency. The ethical dimensions of AI require thoughtful regulatory and policy frameworks that respect human rights, privacy, and align with societal expectations.
By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between AI researchers and experts in social sciences, public policy, and specialized fields, we can harness AI to address global challenges in healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, and disaster response—creating meaningful, real-world change.
Research Areas of Impact:
Our research addresses critical societal challenges at the intersection of AI and human values, focusing on key areas such as:
- Ensuring fairness in algorithmic decision-making and mitigating biases
- Enhancing AI transparency, interpretability, and explainability
- Responsible implementation of AI across essential sectors, including healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, and disaster response
- Navigating ethical frameworks and considerations in AI development and deployment
Through these interdisciplinary efforts, we strive to advance technological innovations that responsibly serve society's needs and uphold fundamental human principles.
Student Research
Our students are engaged in innovative projects addressing real-world challenges in AI and society. Explore some of our students' work!
Rex Chen’s research, which uniquely integrates insights from computational game theory, reinforcement learning, and human-computer interaction, adds valuable perspective to S3D’s "AI and Society" initiative. His research addresses critical societal challenges in domains such as transportation systems and digital privacy, rigorously examining how user behaviors and real-world uncertainties shape AI performance beyond simulations. By grounding advanced algorithmic research in practical, real-world contexts, Rex directly contributes to our shared goals of transparency, fairness, and societal alignment in AI development—demonstrating the transformative potential of interdisciplinary research to drive meaningful and responsible technological change.
Meryl Ye contributes significantly to S3D’s 'AI and Society' research through her innovative study of online social networks. Utilizing computational social science methods, Meryl addresses pressing societal issues such as misinformation, online conflict, and user well-being, aiming to enhance transparency, fairness, and trust in AI-powered systems. Her work bridges technical expertise with social scientific insights, shedding light on how user behavior and information dissemination influence broader societal dynamics. By adopting this interdisciplinary approach, Meryl advances the development of responsible AI systems that are deeply aligned with human values, establishing herself as a vital member of our community’s mission to leverage technology for meaningful social impact.
Peter Carragher's PhD research at Carnegie Mellon University exemplifies S3D's commitment to computing innovation at society's frontier. Working within our "AI and Society" research area, Peter integrates rigorous network science and machine learning methods with social and information theory to tackle pressing societal challenges—including misinformation, online credibility, and social influence. His interdisciplinary approach directly advances our mission to create transparent, fair, and ethically responsible AI systems. By exploring how AI can positively shape information diffusion and retrieval, Peter exemplifies our core purpose: wielding technology for meaningful societal impact.