Social AI Studio is a human-centred AI research group based at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus. We study how artificial intelligence (AI) interacts with people, communities, and society, and develop AI systems that are safer, more trustworthy, socially aware, and responsive to human needs. 

We believe many of the hardest challenges in AI are not purely technical. AI systems increasingly operate in complex social environments, where meaning and impact depend on context, culture, language, human behaviour, and the ways people interact with one another. Our research therefore combines advances in AI with a strong human-centred perspective: understanding how AI affects people, how people understand and use AI, and how we can design systems that better reflect the diversity and complexity of the societies they serve.

Research Areas

Our research spans four broad areas: 

1. Online Trust & Safety: Understanding and mitigating harmful content, misinformation, scams, and other emerging risks in digital environments. 

2. Human-Centred & Trustworthy AI: Developing AI systems that are explainable, accountable, fair, contestable, and aligned with human needs. 

3. Multimodal & Social AI: Building AI that can understand language, images, video, behaviour, and social context. 

4. Culturally Grounded & Pluralistic AI: Creating AI systems that work more reliably across different languages, cultures, communities, and values.

Our History & Mascot (Why Capybara?)

Social AI Studio was founded in Singapore, where our work grew around the study of social behaviour, online harms, multimodal AI, misinformation, and culturally diverse digital environments. In 2026, the Studio began a new chapter at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna, Canada. While our home has moved from Singapore to Canada, our outlook remains global, and we continue to collaborate with researchers and partners across different regions and communities. 

The animal embedded in our logo is a Capybara. Why a Capybara? Because just like the world’s chillest animal, our Social AI Lab is all about collaboration, intelligence, and adaptability! Capybaras are known for their calm nature and ability to connect with all creatures—just like our interdisciplinary research, which brings together diverse fields to create innovative AI solutions. Whether it’s social science, engineering, or computer science, we believe in the power of collaboration. Plus, with the friendliest face in the animal kingdom, who better to represent cutting-edge AI research?