This workshop is invite-only. For inquiries please contact maryattemily@microsoft.com
Microsoft Research recently launched People‑Centric AI (PAI), a new research initiative focused on advancing AI that is grounded in human values, societal impact, and inclusive innovation. This workshop brings together a multidisciplinary community of regional experts to explore the most pressing research challenges shaping this field. Through sharing research insights, surfacing real-world challenges, and open discussion, the event aims to spark new collaborations and identify opportunities that will help shape the next generation research.
The workshop is designed as an interactive gathering with a mix of speaker presentations, panels, poster and demo sessions. We will centre the conversation around four topic areas:
- Opportunities for novel generative AI experiences that connect people
- HCI and design methods for generative interfaces
- Human-in-the-loop and interactive machine learning
- Approaches to building and building with people-centric machine learning models
Agenda
| Time | Session type | Session title | Host/Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | Arrival and light breakfast | ||
| 9:30 | Welcome remarks | Welcome | Sian Lindley, Senior Principal Research Manager, MSR Cambridge Katja Hofmann, Partner Research Manager, MSR Cambridge |
| 9:45 | Keynote | The Atomic Human | Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, a Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield |
| 10:30 | MSR talk | Artificial Intelligence as Tool for Thought | Advait Sarkar, Senior Researcher, Microsoft Research Cambridge |
| 11:00 | Tea break | ||
| 11:30 | Keynote | AI Systems Need Inoculation Against Misinformation | Sander van der Linden, Professor of Psychology, University of Cambridge; Director of the Social Decision Making Laboratory in Cambridge |
| 12:15 | MSR talk | Empowering Communities to Shape AI with the Community Library Creator | Anja Thieme, Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research |
| 12:45 | Lunch + posters | ||
| 14:30 | Panel discussion | The future of People-Centric AI | Rika Antonova, Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge Tobias Revell, Design Futures Lead at Arup Foresight; PhD in Design and the Construction of AI, Goldsmiths Hanna Wallach, VP & Distinguished Scientist, Microsoft Research NYC Richard Banks (Host), Principal Design Manager, Microsoft Research Cambridge |
| 15:15 | Keynote | Out of Our Minds: What is AI Doing to Us? | Yvonne Rogers, Professor of Interaction Design at UCL |
| 16:00 | Closing remarks | Sian Lindley, Senior Principal Research Manager, Microsoft Research Cambridge Katja Hofmann, Partner Research Manager, Microsoft Research Cambridge | |
| 16:05 | Networking Mixer + MSR demos | ||
| 17:00 | End |
Workshop speakers

Neil Lawrence (opens in new tab)
DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, a Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield

Sander van der Linden (opens in new tab)
Professor of Psychology, University of Cambridge; Director of the Social Decision Making Laboratory in Cambridge
Workshop organizers

Emily Maryatt
Senior Community Engagement PM, MSR Accelerator Cambridge








