KMi is a diverse and multidisciplinary R&D lab that has been at the forefront of innovation since 1995, conducting research in computing technologies for social and environmental good. Our research spans Semantic Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Educational Media, Social Data Science, Scholarly Data, Blockchain, Citizen Science, Collective Intelligence, Smart Cities, and others.
At the Knowledge Media Institute (KMi), we transform bold ideas into innovative technologies with real-world impact on society and the environment. We understand technology, and people, and how to harness the latest technical advancements to tackle today's and tomorrow's challenges. For over 30 years, KMi has led AI-driven breakthroughs in knowledge and science, reinforcing research, education, and discovery with intelligent, ethical, and inclusive solutions. Our work empowers all learners, with a strong focus on those from less advantaged backgrounds, ensuring education remains accessible and equitable. We specialise in Benevolent Tech, developing powerful tools for combating online harms, reshaping life in smart cities, reconnecting people with nature to save the planet, and advancing the world's understanding of critical AI developments.
Our expertise in AI ethics, explainability, and human-AI collaboration is more crucial than ever, offering key insights for the responsible adoption of AI in education, research, and society. Our latest advancements include leveraging generative AI for personalised lifelong learning, powering a global open research system serving 30 million monthly users, and developing AI-driven tools to track and predict the progress and retention of over 100,000 students. What sets KMi apart is our pioneering hybrid approach; blending human and symbolic understanding with machine intelligence and analysis. This fusion enables us to move beyond conventional tech solutions, driving meaningful change through groundbreaking human-centred innovations.
KMi prides itself on being diverse, equitable, non-hierarchical and people-oriented, facilitating the free generation of ideas and their robust deliberation. It provides an agile and supportive environment that removes barriers to creativity, fosters innovation and enables talent to thrive.
Upcoming Seminar
Sensemaking across the modalities - art, music, and text
This event will take place on Tuesday 20 May 2025
Dr. Paul Warren - Knowledge Media Institute, The Open University
Humans are constantly sensemaking, and the objects of that sensemaking include art and music. The first part of this talk will report on a study into how making sense of visual art can be...
Showcase
People
Joined the OU as part of the Software Innovation Services Team in the STEM Faculty, in Jan 2020, as a software developer working on research and innovation projects, I've been involved in the...
I am a Visiting Research Fellow. Currenlty at Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences (Fernfachhochschule Schweiz – FFHS) - The Institute for Research in Open, Distance and eLearning...
Testimonials
"If you are or want to be a brilliant mind, this is where you want to be!"
Valentina Presutti, Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, Italy
"I cannot imagine going to a conference without experiencing deep scientific conversations with KMiers!"
Raphaël Troncy, EURECOM: Graduate School & Research Center, France
"Top location for SW research for decades and going strong!"
Pascal Hitzler, Kansas State University, USA
Publications
Tsaneva, S., Dessì, D., Osborne, F. and Sabou, M. (2025) Knowledge graph validation by integrating LLMs and human-in-the-loop, Information Processing & Management, 62, Elsevier
Coughlan, T., Rienties, B., Domingue, J., Herodotou, C., Ullmann, T., Bektik, D., Edwards, C., Whitelock, D., Coughlan, E. and Tessarolo, F. (2025) Holding a lead, or the tail wagging the dog? Exploring educator influence over the behaviour of AI Digital Assistants, EDEN 2025 Annual Conference, Bologna, Italy
Warren, P. (2025) Sensemaking across the modalities - art, music, and text
