Advancing AI that keeps people at the centre.
AIRL is a human-centered artificial intelligence research lab at Thompson Rivers University. We build trustworthy AI for health and healing, defence and security, assistive technologies, Indigenous communities, and applied intelligent systems — and we train the next generation who will carry it forward.
Founding Director named in the World's Top 2% Scientists (Stanford/Elsevier, 2024 & 2025) · Gold Medal, 49th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions (2024) · IEEE Senior Member · Lead, AI for Health & Healing, TRU HorAIzon Presidential Initiative.
Five directions, one principle: the human at the centre.
Every pillar pairs rigorous technical AI with the people it serves — patients, first responders, persons with disabilities, Indigenous communities, students, and industry.
Health & Healing
Medical imaging AI for cancer and disease, digital mental-health support, and secure intelligent health systems. Flagship: the $130K TRU HorAIzon initiative.
Explore pillar →Defence & Security
Resilience against AI-generated disinformation, threat detection, document forensics (9 patents), cybersecurity, and wildfire & public-safety intelligence.
Explore pillar →Assistive Technologies
Award-winning Braille learning systems, sign-language AI, and accessible interfaces — including BlindLine, first among 800 at the NEOM OXAGON Hackathon.
Explore pillar →Indigenous Communities
AI for the digital preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages in Canada, culturally responsive educational AI, and community-led data stewardship.
Explore pillar →Applied AI Systems
Intelligent education, agriculture and environment, smart cities and IoT — from mineral recognition and plant-disease diagnosis to traffic-sign and pothole patents.
Explore pillar →Why "Human-Centered"?
Technology earns trust when people shape it. AIRL pairs deep-learning capability with governance, accessibility, and community partnership — the coral figure at the centre of our mark is the point of every project.
About the lab →News highlights
ICICET 2026 & AHTBE 26 in Vancouver
Dr. Latif serves as General Chair of the 2nd ICICET 2026 and 2nd AHTBE 26, co-hosted at University Canada West, Vancouver, August 21–22, 2026.
Wellness Hub presented to BC Minister of State for AI
An invited research presentation and live demonstration of AIRL's Wellness Hub was delivered to Minister Rick Glumac and his delegation.
"We'll Care" wins Wolves' DEN
A co-supervised TRU student team took first place ($10,000) plus the Audience Choice Award ($2,500) at the Wolves' DEN Innovation Competition.
Join a human-centered AI lab.
Openings for undergraduate researchers (UREAP), graduate students, Mitacs interns, and industry partners.