We are a research team led by Luc Rocher at the Oxford Internet Institute, investigating the impact of AI and technology on society. We are working to guide the development of accountable, sustainable, and safe algorithms that serve the public interest.
Synthetic Society refers to the increasingly algorithm-mediated world we inhabit, where AI systems and digital technologies shape our social interactions, economic systems, and political processes. Our work spans this synthetic landscape, from privacy-enhancing technologies and algorithm auditing to human-centered AI and digital rights advocacy.
News
2024.09 We are hiring one Research Assistant to join the team. 2024.09 Luc Rocher is awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.
What do we do?
We develop human-centred computing methods and tools to scrutinize the hidden mechanisms of our algorithmic society. This includes statistical learning, network science, and machine learning research to model and audit existing systems. We are interested in working with impacted users and communities to understand the implications of AI technologies.
Privacy-Enhancing technologies and data access. Understanding how modern privacy and anonymization techniques impact the reliability of scientific studies and policy interventions.
Language models and NLP. Understanding how to build successful interactions between users and AI systems, and how to mitigate the risks of deploying these technologies.
Online platforms and apps. Investigating the impact of algorithms such as pricing algorithms and recommendation systems.
Get in touch
If you are interested in collaborating with us, please contact Luc Rocher. We have currently opportunities for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars.
Our work is funded by
Synthetic Society
Visit us
