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MSc Behavioural Science - AI and New Technology specialism

This innovative specialism gives students on the MSc Behavioural Science the opportunity to develop cutting-edge expertise at the intersection of behavioural science, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies.

AI will not replace behavioural scientists, but behavioural scientists who use AI and technology will increasingly replace those who do not. This specialism equips students with the knowledge and practical skills required of behavioural scientists today.

Dr Dario Krpan

Across governments, businesses, and civil society, there is a rapidly growing demand for understanding how new technologies shape human behaviour and how they can be used responsibly to predict, influence, and improve it. From AI-driven decision-making and digital platforms to virtual environments and social robotics, technological systems are increasingly embedded in everyday life and policy contexts. At the same time, these developments raise fundamental questions about autonomy, ethics, wellbeing, and the future role of humans in a technologically augmented world.

The AI and New Technology specialism of the MSc Behavioural Science responds to these challenges by providing students with a rigorous and forward-looking training in how behavioural science interacts with technological change. The Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE has a long-standing tradition in this area and has been at the forefront of teaching on AI and new technologies for over a decade, including offering one of the first courses globally dedicated to behavioural science in an age of AI and emerging technologies.

Building on the theoretical foundations and quantitative methods developed in the core curriculum, students on the AI and New Technology specialism explore how technological systems can both enhance and transform behavioural science. They examine key domains such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, behavioural informatics, social robotics, virtual and augmented reality, gamification, self-quantification, and digital mass persuasion. Students critically evaluate whether these technologies primarily scale existing behavioural insights or enable fundamentally new ways of understanding and influencing behaviour.

Importantly, the specialism combines conceptual understanding with practical application. Students learn how to design, implement, and evaluate behavioural interventions that leverage technological tools across a wide range of applied contexts, including public policy, organisations, health, and personal behaviour change. They also engage with the ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies, including issues related to privacy, manipulation, fairness, and human agency.

Students who choose the AI and New Technology specialism attend two courses:

  • PB434: Behavioural Science in an Age of AI and New Technology, which introduces major technological advancements relevant for predicting, understanding, and influencing human behaviour, and explores how these tools can be used to design behavioural interventions.
  • One of the following courses that allow students to learn complementary perspectives on how behaviour can be analysed, modelled, and influenced in the context of technological and societal change: PB429 Science, Innovations and the Human Future; or PB458 Dialogue: Conflict & Negotiation; or PB440 Modelling Minds in Society; or MY459 Computational Text Analysis and Large Language Models; or MY461 Social Network Analysis; or MY474 Applied Machine Learning for Social Science; or MY475 Applied Deep Learning for Social Science; or MY478 Generative AI for Social Science Research.

Dissertation

Students write their MSc dissertation on a topic related to behavioural science in the context of AI and new technology. This may involve empirical research examining the role of any technology or technological development of the student’s choice in influencing, predicting, or shaping human behaviour, or a systematic literature review synthesising existing evidence on the behavioural and societal implications of emerging technologies. Students are encouraged to engage with ongoing research and industry developments, reflecting the rapidly evolving nature of this field.

Assessment

The AI and New Technology specialism incorporates an applied and forward-looking assessment strategy. A central component is the conceptual design of a behavioural intervention that uses technological tools to address a real-world problem. Students develop and present their solutions, demonstrating both theoretical understanding and practical implementation skills.

Degree award

Students who complete the required courses and dissertation in this area may graduate with the degree MSc in Behavioural Science (AI and New Tech), signalling their expertise in one of the most rapidly developing and impactful areas of behavioural science.

AI and New Tech specialism lead