School of Computing Science

Artifical Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we live, work, and understand the world, and the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing Science is helping to shape that future. Our research spans foundational AI, computer vision, information retrieval, human-centred computing, healthcare, and responsible and trustworthy AI, with a focus on technologies that are powerful, transparent, fair, and aligned with human values.

AI is central to our work on climate and environmental sustainability. Projects include climate-friendly finance through the EU-funded Climinvest project, distributed environmental monitoring through TERRA, and computer vision for plankton and biodiversity monitoring through the NERC-funded DEAL project. In healthcare, we collaborate with the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, CRUK Scotland Institute, and the Centre for Virus Research. Our researchers apply deep learning and large language models to challenges including cancer, viral transmission, and medical imaging, with projects such as AI-based bone segmentation supporting fracture surgery planning. Glasgow is also a leader in safe, social, and responsible AI. We are a lead partner in the EU PHAWM project on safer AI software and lead Probably Futures, investigating responsible use of large language models in high-stakes decision-making, including criminal justice.

We also train the next generation of AI researchers through doctoral programmes including the SOCIAL CDT in socially responsible AI and robotics and the RAINZ CDT in Robotics and AI for Net Zero.

Quick Links

Project Highlights

ClimInvest

ClimInvest is a collaborative research project that bridges the gap between climate science and the financial sector. Led by an interdisciplinary team including University of Glasgow researchers, it aims to develop tailored tools, indicators, and maps to help investors assess physical climate risks like flooding, sea-level rise and heatwaves. By translating complex scientific data into practical, sectoral-specific insights, the project empowers asset managers and banks to make climate-resilient decisions.

ClimInvest

Robotics & Autonomous Systems

The TERRA initiative focuses on creating "Digital Twins" of our planet. This project brings together experts from academia, government, and industry to build a scalable digital framework that constantly updates with data from sensors, satellites, and citizen science. By simulating complex Earth systems, TERRA helps researchers and policymakers predict and manage critical environmental challenges, such as landscape resilience to landslides and flood risks.

TERRA initiative

DEAL

The DEAL project is a collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) that uses AI to analyze plankton imagery. Researchers create synthetic images of rare species to improve AI classifier models and enhance automated plankton identification.

DEAL project

PHAWM

The Participatory Harm Auditing Workbenches and Methodologies (PHAWM) project is a University-led initiative designed to make Artificial Intelligence safer and more trustworthy. Backed by £3.5 million from Responsible AI UK (RAi UK), it focuses on "democratising" AI auditing by creating open-source tools that non-experts can use to identify biases or harms in AI systems.

PHAWM

PROBabLE Futures

The PROBabLE Futures project is a major £3.4 million Keystone Project involving the University of Glasgow, focused on the use of probabilistic AI in law enforcement. It addresses the risks of using AI tools in sensitive legal settings, where outputs can have life-changing consequences, such as miscarriages of justice.

PROBabLE Futures 

People