The UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe Artificial Intelligence Systems (SAINTS) was launched in 2024. Our PhD researchers have backgrounds in diverse disciplines including Computer Science, Philosophy, Law, Health Sciences and Sociology. The aim of the centre is to train 60 talented PhD students with the research expertise and skills necessary to ensure that the benefits of AI-enabled Autonomous Systems are realised without introducing harm as the systems and their environments evolve.
SAINTS researchers do not only work at the cutting edge of AI and safety assurance, but also gain the ability to engage deeply and responsibly with emerging regulatory, ethical and policy-making aspects of AI governance. They demonstrate this through the extensive co-creation of research and impactful engagement with our diverse partners, translating their research and aligning it with industry, regulatory and societal needs.
Located in the flagship Institute for Safe Autonomy at the University of York, the world’s first facility dedicated to safe autonomy, SAINTS is supported by funding from the UKRI, plus partner contributions and insight from a network of over 35 industry partners from sectors such as aerospace, automotive and healthcare, alongside underpinning software/AI, regulation and research institutes.
Our Research
SAINTS research focuses on the lifelong safety assurance of increasingly autonomous systems in dynamic and uncertain contexts, building on methodologies and concepts in disciplines spanning AI, safety science, philosophy, law, sociology and health sciences. Research within SAINTS addresses the following two research themes: Lifelong safety of AI systems and Safety of increasingly autonomous AI systems.
Our Training
A Centre for Doctoral Training is different from a traditional PhD programme as there is a requirement for a structured training programme, delivered to the whole Cohort.
For the SAINTS programme, we split this training into 4 streams which exist alongside the individual research that a PGR is expected to undertake. The cohorts we recruit to SAINTS are multi-disciplinary and, for teaching, this means we need to be aware that our students have vastly different experiences of the topics being taught.
Our community
At SAINTS, our diverse community of academic staff, professional support staff, postgraduate researchers and partners work together to create a collegiate atmosphere of innovation and inspiration.
