Aisha Sobey

Dr Aisha Sobey is a Postdoctoral Associate at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, and a Research Fellow and Research Program Coordinator at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI). Her interdisciplinary work critically examines power dynamics in digital technologies, with a focus on AI ethics, fat liberation, and the political economy of smart cities, bridging geography, human-computer interaction, and social justice frameworks.

Her academic journey includes a BA from Queens University Belfast, an MPhil in International Relations and Politics from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD from Cambridge's Department of Architecture. Her doctoral research, conducted as the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Scholar at Fitzwilliam College, analyzed Singapore's Smart Nation initiative through the lens of neoliberal-developmental governance.

Sobey's research interrogates how digital systems enforce societal norms—particularly regarding body size and citizenship—while advocating for design justice. She pioneers critical analysis of anti-fat bias in AI, as demonstrated in her groundbreaking work on generative image models, and explores how smart city narratives privilege certain populations while marginalizing others. Her approach integrates queer and feminist scholarship to challenge techno-solutionism.

Her publications reveal a consistent trajectory from smart city governance (2023) to contemporary AI ethics crises (2025), with increasing emphasis on embodied experiences and systemic discrimination. Key themes include the weaponization of data metrics, the construction of 'normate' bodies in generative AI, and the intersection of digital systems with healthcare decision-making.

Her scientific awards include:

• Lee Kuan Yew PhD Scholarship (2018)
• Digital X Scholarship with the Norman Foster Foundation (2019)
• College Senior Scholarship for top performing PhD students at Fitzwilliam College (2020-2021)

As Research Programmes Coordinator at CFI, Sobey directs the Blog, Research Ethics Committee, and chairs the Wellbeing, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (WIDE) working group. She serves as a University of Cambridge Data Champion for ethical data handling and mentors through the SAH Summer School, demonstrating deep commitment to institutional change and widening participation in academia.

She leads the Desirable Digitisation project at CFI, applying intersectional anthropology to AI design for sustainable futures. Her leadership in the WIDE group and creation of critical thinking resources for students on social media wellbeing exemplify her praxis-oriented approach to creating inclusive research ecosystems beyond traditional academic boundaries.