At the forefront of AI

The University of Edinburgh is the birthplace of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Europe. AI has been part of our history for more than six decades, and continues to influence and drive our extraordinary work today and into the future.

We are using AI to change lives

We believe AI has the ability to unlock economic growth, create previously unimagined jobs and industries, offer solutions to over-stretched public services, and make the lives better for everyone in the UK – and beyond.

We believe this because at Edinburgh we are already doing it.

This progress is made possible by our unique blend of expert talent, advanced computing capabilities, rich datasets and strong partnerships across sectors.

We have the people, the machines, the experience and the ambition to do more. 

Explore to learn more about our work, our people and how to join us as we push the boundaries of AI. 

1st in the world for industry, innovation and infrastructure Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

1st in the world for industry, innovation and infrastructure*

£100m+ investment into the Edinburgh International Data Facility

£100m+ investment into the Edinburgh International Data Facility

No.1 in the UK for research power in Computing Science and Informatics Times Higher Education based on the 2021 Research Excellence Framework

No.1 in the UK for research power in Computing Science and Informatics*

£350m economic impact from research in patient care, digital services and sustainable energy

£350m economic impact from research in patient care, digital services and sustainable energy

Several small cartoon representations of people are linked by brown handdrawn lines representing a network.

We are first in the world for industry, innovation and infrastructure, according to Times Higher Education, with one of Europe’s largest centres for AI research.

A man in a red t-shirt is standing in front of a large white board and writing on it. Sitting on a sofa in front of him are six people looking at what he's writing.

With partners, we apply our research to real-world challenges, unlocking AI’s potential across academia, government, industry and the public sector.

couple sitting on salisbury crags in Edinburgh

How you study matters as much as what you study. With flexible pathways, you can study AI at Edinburgh in the way that suits your schedule and learning style.

A woman wearing glasses sitting at a table holds up two flash cards to three other people at table outlining details of a discussion that they have just had about AI infrastructure.

Learn more about the University’s cross-sector stakeholder assembly, setting practical priorities for AI infrastructure, sovereignty and democratic governance.

Michael Rovatsos

Professor Michael Rovatsos separates AI fact from fiction, exploring the risks and benefits of creating machines that think like us.

two people sit at a desk. One has VR googles on, the other nakes changes on a laptop

AI has the potential to improve the worlds of health, finance and climate action. See the real-world applications of our research and innovation.

Row 1: Subramanian Ramamoorthy, Helen Hastie, Themis Prodromakis  Row 2: Mirella Lapata, Michael Rovatsos, Shannon Vallor

At Edinburgh, we aren't just part of the AI conversation - we're leading it. We are a global hub for AI and our students, staff and alumni are shaping AI internationally.

*1st in the world for industry, innovation and infrastructure Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, No.1 in the UK for research power in Computing Science and Informatics Times Higher Education based on the 2021 Research Excellence Framework