AI, Human And Institution:
Mens, Manus and Machina

Explores how AI and robotics can enhance—not replace—human skills. Blending technoloy and social science, it creates real-world solutions for cities, jobs and education.

Prof. Jinhua Zhao, Lead Principal Investigator of Mens, Manus and Machina

3 Research Themes

Theme 1:

Physical and digital interfaces and AI foundations

Theme 2:

AI for human capital development & economic growth

Theme 3:

Human-machine dynamics in task design & resource allocation

In The News

Adoption of autonomous vehicles is one race Singapore is not keen on winning

Cities such as Guangzhou and San Francisco already have robotaxis and autonomous buses for public use, but Singapore is treading carefully. This deliberate pace is not hesitation but to ensure safety, among other reasons.

A collaborative approach towards the future of work

Move the conversation out of the boardroom and also give a seat to economists, organisational behaviour specialists and urban planners, among others

SMART launches research group to advance AI, automation, and the future of work

The Singapore MIT-Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, has launched a new interdisciplinary research group aimed at tackling key social and institutional challenges around the rise of artificial intelligence and other new technologies. The group, known as Mens, Manus and Machina: How AI Empowers People, Institutions and the City in […]

Singapore-MIT Alliance launches new research group to explore human interactions with machines, by CNA Asia

A new research group is looking into ways to help Singaporeans live better with machines. Mens, Manus and Machina — or M3S — also looks into “social frameworks” for our interactions with machines. The programme is by the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART). Lead principal investigator Jinhua Zhao shared more about the programme […]

Prof Jinhua Zhao on the Singapore-MIT AI Symposium, by CNA Asia

How to use AI safely and make learning or work easier were among key topics discussed at the MIT-Singapore AI Symposium in January 2024. Academics, government agencies and firms gathered to look at ways to ride this technological wave to transform all aspects of human society. Professor Jinhua Zhao, lead principal investigator at SMART M3S […]