The HIVECAI Lab exploresHuman Interactions, Values andExperiences with Conversational AI
Many Voices, Shared Intelligence
The HIVE CAI Lab is full of busy bees working on advancing Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), AI, and design research to improve how conversational AI systems represent and support diverse human values.
We use interdisciplinary research methods to explore a wide range of questions, leading to new insights about conversational AI practitioners and users, participatory design frameworks and practical tools, and a better understanding of what is really at stake with these highly social and interactive technologies.
Our work supports the creation of conversational AI systems that are human-centred, value-sensitive, understandable, and customisable. We do this through two pathways.
Living With Conversational AI Values
How people perceive, interpret, experience, and are influenced by conversational AI value expressions.
1. Conversational AI Literacy & User Agency
Helping people understand, evaluate, and steer conversational AI behaviours.
2. The Impacts of Conversational AI Values on Users
Understanding how diverse users perceive, interact with, and are impacted by the values in conversational AI systems.
Shaping Conversational AI Values
How human values get embedded, configured, and operationalised in conversational AI systems.
1. Co-Design for Human-Centred Applications of Conversational AI
Designing with others to build and evaluate human-centred conversational AI systems.
2. Practitioners’ Work with Values
Understanding how AI practitioners conceptualise and operationalise values in their work.
3. Value Visualisation & Customisation
Toolkits and interfaces for designing and building more value-sensitive conversational AI systems.
Team
Collaborators
Lab Ethos and Principles
Latest Activities
Dr. Malak Sadek delivered a talk titled 'Human Values in AI Design' as part of Lloyd Bank's 'Leading with AI' training program for senior leadership.
Jun 2026 | Outreach
The HIVE CAI Lab has three forthcoming publications at the ACM Conference for Conversational User Interfaces (CUI 2026).
Jun 2026 | Research
Dr. Malak Sadek was elected as Communications Officer for the British Computer Society (BCS) Interaction Specialist Group. This is the oldest and largest group of HCI academics and professionals in Europe.
May 2026 | Service
HIVE CAI Lab's publication with the Collective Innovation Lab at Imperial College London, 'KNIT: Computational Boundary Objects for Real-Time Convergence in Interdisciplinary Teams', at CHI 2026 has earned an Honourable Mention.
Apr 2026 | Research
Afifah Kashif presented her work 'Governance as Methodology: Toward Anticipatory, Design-Embedded Governance for HRI' at the InterAI Workshop at the IEEE/ACM International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI 2026) in Edinburgh. This was possible thanks to travel grants from Clare College and the Centre for Human-Inspired AI (CHIA).
Mar 2026 | Research
Dr. Malak Sadek and Dr. Dorian Peters held a workshop titled 'Aligning Conversational AI with Human Values' at the International Positive Psychology Association's 'AI and the Future of Wellbeing' Summit.
Mar 2026 | Outreach
Dr. Malak Sadek and Echo Wan held an event at The Cambridge Festival titled 'AI Facilitated Problem Solving' using an LLM facilitator to help members of the general public converge and solve problems together.
Mar 2026 | Outreach
Dr. Malak Sadek was part of a panel titled 'Making AI Sound Human. Should We? And What Happens When We Do?' at The European Chatbot and Conversational AI Summit in Edinburgh.
Feb 2026 | Outreach
Join the HIVE
Interested in working at the intersection of HCI and conversational AI to shape user experiences and align with diverse values? Reach out to us!
Collaborate on Research
Get in touch to explore collaborative projects, joint grants, or shared initiatives with the HIVE CAI Lab.
Our projects are all focused on real-world applications and impact, and have been funded by various sources, including The Alan Turing Institute, the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, the Institute for Humane Studies, and the Cambridge Humanities Research Grants Scheme.
Become a Lab Member
We welcome new lab members that want to work on research and projects at the intersection of conversational AI, HCI, and human values. Experience with empirical human/user research is preferred, as well as familiarity with computer science and AI.
For visiting researcher and student opportunities, as well as postdoctoral positions, please contact Dr. Malak Sadek directly.
MPhil in Human-Inspired AI
9-month Masters degree combining taught elements and independent research.
PhD in Human-Inspired AI
4-year doctoral degree primarily consisting of research into relevant topics.