Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI)
“Research for the real world: We have infinite curiosity for solving problems with machine learning and deep passion for seeing humans flourish amidst AI. The intersections of these angles define where our cooperation with you begins.”
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Get to Know Us
The Center for Artificial Intelligence was founded in the spring of 2021 and starting January 1, 2027 will be run as the Institute for AI. We are recognized as a competence center for AI in the greater Zurich area and throughout Switzerland, with the focus on the vision of a livable human future with and through AI.
We focus on the following key questions:
- How can we think about AI and fundamentally advance the technology?
- How can AI systems “perceive,” “understand,” and generate content?
- How can AI “act” in the physical world?
- How should AI be developed, deployed, evaluated, and integrated into regulatory frameworks?
We collaborate with researchers in other disciplines, including engineering, the natural sciences and the humanities, and explore applications across all domains, from industry, culture, healthcare, and science to security.
The diagram below illustrates how our center is structured in terms of its research topics and research groups.
Embodied Mobile Agents | Explainable AI | Industrial AI | Intelligent Vision Systems | Language AI | Machine Perception and Cognition | Responsible AI Innovation
People at CAI
We have more than 50 motivated and experienced researchers working in one of our seven research groups, and we usually have more than 40 Master Students and PhD Students studying with us. You can find our staff listed here.
Partner with Us
Technology should never be a purpose of its own - it must deliver tangible value across industry, business, science, culture and the public sector. As part of our research and innovation ecosystem, we help you identify relevant AI challenges and work with you to develop potential solutions.
Through tailored innovation sprints with external partners, we are able to identify their individual needs and co-create solutions tailored to them. We then develop prototypes and test potential products to create reliable and trustworthy solutions ready for implementation.
Our main research topics are strategically chosen and are the foundation of our center:
Foundations of AI & Machine Learning: How AI is conceived and advanced.
The methodological bedrock, from the foundations of the field to how learning systems are built, trained, and deployed, to emerging paradigms for AI problem solving.
Methodological aspects:
- Machine learning methodology & neural architectures
- AI paradigms, hybrid & neuro-symbolic AI
- ML Systems, MLOps & AI compute architectures
Generative & Multimodal AI: How AI systems understand and create.
Be it on text, image, or sensor data, be it for industrial or medical applications, be it for science or safety-critical sectors, with bespoke and foundation models.
Methodological aspects:
- Generative models including large (vision) language models
- Natural language processing, computer vision & audio-visual understanding
- Multimodal learning & sensor data analysis
Physical & Agentic AI: How AI acts in the world.
From autonomous software process agents to embodied systems between mobile robotics and industrial automation, from simulation to the real world.
Methodological aspects:
- Autonomy, embodied AI & robot learning
- Reinforcement learning, control & optimization
- Agentic systems & human-AI interaction
Trustworthy & Responsible AI: How AI should be engineered, deployed, audited, and governed.
From the technical practices of robust engineering to stakeholder engagement across disciplines and sectors, to addressing the normative societal questions of how to shape an environment in which one wants to live with AI, now and in the future.
Methodological aspects:
- Robust, safe & explainable AI
- AI Ethics & societal impact
- AI governance, risks & certification
Get in touch with us if you have a business challenge that may fall into one of these research topics and you cannot find an existing solution on the market. It could be the perfect opportunity for a collaborative research project - potentially with the possibility of third-party funding.
Further Information
Study with Us
We believe in the scientific method as the most effective approach to solving complex real-world challenges. That is why the ZHAW Centre for Artificial Intelligence offers methodology-driven courses as part of the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs at the ZHAW School of Engineering. We are committed to ensuring that the latest advances in research and development are integrated into our teaching, providing a unique range of educational opportunities.
We are equally committed to lifelong learning. Through our continuing education programs in artificial intelligence you will gain a solid foundation of knowledge and learn how to apply modern AI technologies safely, efficiently, and effectively in business and industrial practice. Help shape technological change and expand your skills for the workplace of tomorrow.
Our Programmes
Work with Us
The CAI is the leading competence center for the development and research of methods and general applications in AI and machine learning within ZHAW. Starting from concrete, real-world application challenges we strive for groundbreaking research for which a highly motivated, interdisciplinary team is crucial.
While we are results-oriented, we are equally committed to our employees and their personal development. We create a working environment that fosters regular exchange in seminars and colloquia, professional development, and strong interpersonal relationships through social activities.
In terms of infrastructure, we provide extensive computing resources as well as state-of-the-art laboratories that enable complex development projects. While we value on-site interactions we also provide the technical infrastructure supporting our established work-from-home culture and helping employees achieve a healthy balance between work and family life.
