I am Dr Shyam Krishna, a Research Leader at RAND Europe. My work examines how increasingly capable AI systems affect safety and assurance, critical infrastructure, human agency, geopolitical and technological dependencies, and institutional preparedness.
Researching AI as it becomes more capable, autonomous and embedded
My current work focuses on the institutional, technical and strategic questions that emerge as AI moves from individual models towards increasingly autonomous systems operating across organisations, infrastructures and societies.
AI governance and critical infrastructure
Examining how AI changes resilience, accountability, human oversight and operational decision-making across critical infrastructure and other consequential settings.
AI evaluation and evidence for governance
Research on emerging capabilities, failure modes, evaluation, assurance and the evidence institutions need before increasingly capable systems are deployed.
AI sovereignty and technological dependency
Exploring how compute, semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, models and supply chains shape strategic dependency, resilience and national governance capacity.
Agentic AI and multi-agent systems
Investigating how autonomy, interaction and coordination between AI systems create new challenges around escalation, responsibility, observability and preparedness.
From data justice to AI resilience
My earlier research examined digital identity, platform labour, datafication, surveillance and technology for development. That work continues to shape how I approach AI: not simply as a technical system, but as one embedded within institutions, infrastructures and unequal distributions of power.
Across both my earlier and current research, the central concern is how technological systems redistribute agency, risk, visibility and responsibility — and how institutions can respond as those systems become more capable and difficult to govern.
Research, policy and international engagement
RAND Europe
Research Leader working on AI safety, governance, resilience and emerging technology.
International AI governance
Engagement through UNESCO AI Ethics Experts Without Borders, the Council of Europe and the UN AI Governance for Humanity Lab.
Queen Mary University of London
Visiting academic appointment at the Digital Environment Research Institute.