Ibrahim Habli is the Director of the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Lifelong Safety Assurance of AI-enabled Autonomous Systems (SAINTS CDT).
Ibrahim’s expertise is in the design and assurance of safety-critical systems, with a particular focus on AI and autonomous systems. He is a member of the Department of Computer Science.
We caught up with Ibrahim to find out more about his work, and his thoughts on Artificial Intelligence.
What is your role in SAINTS and what does it involve?
As the SAINTS Director, I get to wear many hats. I love supporting and being part of all sorts of training, research and outreach activities, working closely with our fantastic doctoral researchers and the broader SAINTS community. That’s the best part of my job! I also handle things like strategy, budget, external relationships and – yes – even a bit of paperwork.
Tell us about your research interests. What do you find most interesting or enjoyable about your work?
My research focuses on understanding safety of complex systems, specifically software-intensive ones like AI, through an interdisciplinary lens.
I’m particularly interested in the conceptual foundations of safety – informed by collaborations with philosophers – and how those concepts translate to challenging real-world environments. Clinicians provide invaluable insights in this regard. I’m drawn to safety problems without easy answers, as they offer the greatest potential for impactful research.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
I’m incredibly proud of SAINTS!
This Centre for Doctoral Training embodies the best of academia: close student collaboration, amazing colleagues, unique partnerships, and an inclusive environment. It’s all in service of a crucial public good: making AI safer for everyone!
What’s next on the research horizon for you?
Establishing a foundation for safety science for AI, with SAINTS making a great push on this front!
Can you share some interesting work that you read about recently?
A book titled ‘There Is Nothing For You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century‘ by Fiona Hill. It covers a wide range of topics, including opportunities, personal struggles, the complexities of politics, and so much more.
What are your thoughts on the future of AI?
Common sense will prevail! Billionaires and politicians may eventually get bored of the existential risk narrative, allowing us to focus on helping the world realise the benefits of AI while mitigating any potential harm.
What one piece of advice do you have for SAINTS postgraduate researchers?
Immerse yourself in the doctoral research journey and actively participate in every aspect.