The Conversational AI Research Cluster (CAIRC) is a collection of researchers dedicated to advancing research in the themes of physical activity, health, wellbeing, and sport through the development and application of conversational AI technologies. 

Mission

Our primary focus is in developing theoretical frameworks, cognitive systems, and co-design conversational agents which are user-led and evidence-based. Our aim is to leverage these technologies to transform people’s lives at scales by creating new services or improving existing services they engage with.

Background

CAIRC originated with a specific focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by adolescents in overcoming barriers to physical activity. Over time, our mission has evolved, and we've expanded our horizons to encompass a broader spectrum of projects. Today, our research initiatives extend to supporting individuals living with health conditions, supporting students overcome barriers to education, as well as in elite sport.

Our research cluster is characterised by its rich diversity, including members from various multidisciplinary backgrounds, including computing, psychology, physical activity, sport, and public health. Our diverse expertise allows us to approach projects holistically, ensuring that our conversational AI solutions are technologically sound and consider environmental, human, and societal factors.

Research Pillars

The CAI research group has seven research pillars:

1. Creating and Enhancing Knowledge: We work to advance conversational AI by enhancing existing knowledge and generating new insights.
2. Developing Effective Conversational AI Solutions: Our focus extends beyond technology to the development of impactful conversational agents that significantly improve lives.
3. Promoting Safe and Trustworthy AI: Our commitment is to the ethical and secure design of AI systems, emphasizing user safety and trust.
4. Facilitating Collaboration and Capacity Building: Collaboration is key. We aim to empower team members and partners, fostering expertise in conversational AI.
5. Driving Policy and Practice: Our research aims to influence policy and practice, bridging the gap between academic research and real-world applications.
6. Engaging with Key Partners: We actively engage with stakeholders to ensure our research meets real-world needs and implement effective AI solutions.
7. Nurturing Research Opportunities: We offer a range of research opportunities for students at all levels, fostering the next generation of conversational AI researchers.

Impact

CAIRC is committed to creating impactful collaborations, research initiatives, and educational programs. Our team's expertise in securing grants and conducting high-quality research contributes significantly to the field of conversational AI.

Projects

• Cancer Prehabilitation – The primary objective of the study is to collaborate with individuals living with cancer, co-design tailored interventions, and develop a pilot chatbot that will provide prehabilitation support. Through rigorous research, the study will aim to enhance the well-being of cancer patients to prime the adoption of evidence-based conversational AI interventions in areas such as physical activity and nutrition, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
• UK Anti Doping – Co-designing a chatbot to support elite athletes overcome barriers to whistleblowing.
• Phyllis (www.Phyllis.chat) - Phyllis (www.phyllis.chat) is an innovative, theory-informed Artificial Intelligence (AI) conversational agent in development at SHU, strategically designed to function both as a stand-alone tool and as a pioneering framework for the creation of future conversational agents. Its core mission is to create a transformative impact at scale by delivering evidence-based, personalised support aimed at educating and motivating children, ages 11-16, to participate in regular physical activity. Accessible 24/7 via electronic devices, Phyllis will operate in a non-judgmental manner, harnessing AI to interpret natural language input from children regarding 56 distinct barriers to physical activity. It will provide personalised, contextually relevant evidence-based support, informed by the COM-B model of behaviour change. Phyllis also aspires to monitor children’s participation in physical activity and direct them to local services or opportunities for increased engagement. This is a comprehensive, personalised approach to behaviour change which has the potential to be applied in education, public health and healthcare.
• Educhat - A co-designed conversational AI agent to help educators better understand and address learning barriers by actively engaging with students through targeted interventions and signposting them to internal and external services.
• Children and Excess Weight Service – Scoping study and co-design with adolescents to design chatbot modules to support barriers to weight.
• Therapha - Therapha™ is a conversational chatbot that uses patient-reported symptoms and history to provide comprehensive musculoskeletal triaging, decision support, and document automation at the point of care. CAIRC worked with the startup to conduct retrospective co-design, improve the design of the chatbot and evaluate usability and acceptability as part of the Sheffield Hallam University Physio Service. https://www.shu.ac.uk/advanced-wellbeing-research-centre/accelerator/startups/programme-2/therapha
• Virtus Sport – Chatbot to support athletes and coaches to identify information about worldwide intellectual impairment events
• Mindbehind – Consultation with students and university staff to develop a prototype chatbot to support student wellbeing.
• APKD Charity – Co-design a chatbot to facilitate discussion with families living with Polycystic Kidney Disease to inform family members of the condition.
• Greentop Circus – Developed a prototype chatbot to provide information on a school circus programme.

Conference presentations

• Richard Moore, Poster Presentation - Digital Child Health Conference, NIHR, November 2023
• Abdel-Karim Al-Tamimi, Poster Presentation – LTA Conference, SHU, 2023.
• Richard Moore, Speaker - RE-WORK Conversational AI Conference · May 16, 2023, Phyllis – A Theory Informed Chatbot to Support Children and Young People to Overcome Barriers to Physical Activity - Schedule | Conversational AI Summit | RE•WORK (re-work.co)
• Richard Moore, Speaker - Roadmap of Digital Transformation, Informa Connect - AQMEN 365 · Jun 22, 2022
• Richard Moore, Speaker - Digital Child Health Conference, NIHR · Jun 8, 2022, Chatterbot supporting families with Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Richard Moore, Speaker - European Chatbot & Conversational AI Summit, Mar 1, 2022, Introducing Phyllis – a chatbot to support adolescents overcome barriers to physical activity
• Richard Moore, Speaker - Conversation Design Festival 2021, November 2021

PhDs

• Co-design of a Patient-Centric Cancer Prehabilitation Chatbot
• Educhat – Co-design a conversational AI agent to help students overcome learning barriers

Awards

• Research Cluster Funding – Formation of the Conversational AI Research cluster at Sheffield Hallam University.
• Early Career Fellowship 2021 – Involved development of the Conversational AI Research Cluster at SHU including novel research.
• Sheffield Hallam Research and Innovation Funding 2023 – Funding to create a design framework for the development of conversational AI interventions.

Staff

Richard Moore

Abdel-Karim Al Tamimi

Danielle Paddock

Elizabeth Freeman

Ryan Storey

Lantana Hewitt

Alex Bugg

Contact us

If you would like to get involved in CAIRC or are interested in learning more about what we do, please contact group lead, Richard Moore (r.moore@shu.ac.uk)