HerHCAI 2026

Human Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI)

Our Focus

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the society and our daily lives but also raising concerns about potential risks and negative ramifications. As interest grows in understanding how AI affects society and whether it meets people’s needs and values, Human Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) has emerged as an important approach for addressing these questions and concerns.

HCAI is about creating AI that puts people first and in control. Our focus is to ensure that AI is safe, fair, ethical, inclusive, and useful, while being developed responsibly to benefit both individuals and society.

We work at the intersection of technology, ethics, and human experience examining how bias enters AI systems, how design choices affect real lives, and how AI can be built to serve everyone, not just the majority represented in its training data.

Why It Matters

AI is only as fair as the data it learns from. If bias is not addressed, AI can make unfair decisions and cause harm in areas such as healthcare, education, jobs, and financial services. HCAI exists to identify these risks early and promotes the development of AI systems that are fair, transparent, accountable, and inclusive.

What We Do

Our work spans research, education, and public engagement, including:

• Public dialogue through seminars, conferences, and policy engagement on responsible AI
• Research into bias, fairness, and ethics in AI systems
• Skills development to widen participation in AI and STEM fields
• Mentorship and industry collaboration to build inclusive pipelines into AI careers

Our Projects

HCAI brings together a portfolio of projects tackling different dimensions of human-centred, ethical AI from gender equity in AI careers to broader work on bias, safety, and inclusive design. Explore our current projects below.

View Projects

Featured Events

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  Human-Centred AI in Practice Building Fair AI Products20 July 2026
  HerHCAI Seminar Series | 20 July 2026 | Speaker: Anayo Oleru, Technical Co-founder, Civeex As part of the HerHCAI seminar series leading up to our… Read more: Human-Centred AI in Practice Building Fair AI Products
• 
  HerHCAI 2026: International Conference on Gender Equality in AI Technology and STEM Education7 July 2026
  Conference Overview The HerHCAI 2026 International Conference on Gender Equality in AI Technology and STEM Education will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and system builders… Read more: HerHCAI 2026: International Conference on Gender Equality in AI Technology and STEM Education
• 
  HerHCAI Seminar Series: Exploring Human-Centred AI7 July 2026
  Date: Every Monday, 20 July – 9 December 2026Time: 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM (UK Time)Location: Online About this Event Join the HerHCAI Seminar Series, a weekly online seminar exploring the… Read more: HerHCAI Seminar Series: Exploring Human-Centred AI
• 
  Mentoring Sessions with Female AI Experts7 July 2026
  The HerHCAI Mentoring Sessions are a 2-day intensive online event connecting women on the programme with leading female AI professionals from industry and academia. Facilitated… Read more: Mentoring Sessions with Female AI Experts

News & Blog Preview

• AI is not neutral and that is our worry12 July 2026
  Have you ever wondered who decides what AI learns about you? Most of us use AI every day without thinking twice. We ask questions, get… Read more: AI is not neutral and that is our worry
• AI BIAS – AT A GLANCE11 July 2026
  Most AI systems are built by men. Now guess who gets left behind? 👀 The answer might not surprise you. From hiring tools to recommendation… Read more: AI BIAS – AT A GLANCE

Our Partners

Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU) – United Kingdom

CMU is a forward-thinking university committed to advancing gender equality and producing impactful, globally relevant research. Through the HerHCAI project, CMU is enhancing its reputation as a leader in inclusive HCAI education and contributing to its Research Excellence Framework through socially responsible initiatives.

Website: www.cardiffmet.ac.uk

Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) – Nigeria

FUTA is a leading Nigerian technology university dedicated to excellence in research and teaching, particularly in STEM disciplines. FUTA brings expertise in Human-Centred Design and a strong focus on addressing inequalities in AI. HerHCAI strengthens FUTA’s international research profile and supports its mission to translate research into practical societal benefit.

Website: www.futa.edu.ng

British Council

HerHCAI is funded by the British Council through its Gender Equality Partnerships Grant programme, which supports cross-cultural collaboration to advance gender equality globally.

Website: www.britishcouncil.org