AICS | AI • COMPUTING • SOCIETY
Understanding and shaping
AI-driven,
computing-mediated societies.
AICS is an interdisciplinary research initiative at the intersection of AI, computing and society.
FOUNDING INSTITUTIONS
SUPPORTED BY
About AICS
AICS studies AI systems in the societal environments in which they operate. We investigate how AI, people and institutions influence one another, and how these systems can be designed to remain trustworthy, accountable and responsive to real-world conditions.
AICS at a glance
Our research
AICS research spans four interconnected areas, from AI methods and systems to social computing, cognition and governance.
AI Systems
Advancing robust, transparent and trustworthy AI through machine learning, software systems and computational methods.
Social Computing
Studying how digital platforms, online communities and AI systems influence behaviour, collective processes and institutions.
Cognitive AI
Investigating language, reasoning, learning, and cognition to deepen our understanding of both natural and artificial intelligence.
AI Governance
Developing evidence-based approaches to the governance, regulation and responsible deployment of AI technologies.
OUR APPROACH
Research across boundaries
AICS brings foundational computer science together with computational social science, psychology and governance research. Societal questions are not treated simply as applications for AI; they help shape the methods, models and systems we develop.
IMPACT
From scientific discovery to societal impact
AICS develops knowledge, methods and design principles for AI systems that are more trustworthy, accountable and responsive to the environments in which they operate.
By connecting technical advances with evidence about human behaviour and institutional dynamics, our research can support better system design, more rigorous evaluation and more informed decisions about how AI is deployed in society.
People shaping AICS
AICS is built on internationally visible expertise across its participating institutions. Researchers contribute complementary perspectives and develop the scientific agenda together.
Seth Flaxman
Machine Learning & Computational Social Science, RPTU
Christoph Garth
Scientific Visualization & Visual Analytics, RPTU
Krishna Gummadi
Social Computing & Responsible AI, MPI-SWS
Marius Kloft
Machine Learning & Responsible AI, RPTU
Michaela Maier
Political & Science Communication, RPTU
Latest from AICS
Seth Flaxman to Join RPTU and Strengthen AICS
Seth Flaxman will join RPTU as Professor of Computer Science in October 2026, bringing expertise in machine learning, social computing and global health to the AICS research community.
AICS-SOUNDS Colloquium on AI and Law
AICS and SOUNDS brought together researchers from computer science, law, and the social sciences to explore emerging questions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, legal reasoning, and public policy.
AICS-SOUNDS Workshop
AICS and SOUNDS brought together researchers across disciplines to explore shared scientific challenges and new directions for interdisciplinary research on AI, computing, and society.