Nitin Agarwal

Dr. Nitin Agarwal is the Founding Director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center (https://cosmos.ualr.edu/) and the Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Chair & Donaghey Distinguished Professor at University of Arkansas – Little Rock (https://profiles.ualr.edu/na10/). He is also a Faculty Fellow at the International Computer Science Institute of University of California, Berkeley (https://www.icsi.berkeley.edu/icsi/node/6714).

Dr. Nitin Agarwal’s research aims to push the boundaries of our understanding of digital and cyber social behaviors that emerge and evolve constantly in modern information and communication platforms. At COSMOS, he leads projects with a combined funding of over $30 million from an array of U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, DARPA, Department of State, and National Science Foundation. He plays a significant role in the long-term partnership between UA Little Rock and the Department of Homeland Security. He developed publicly available social media analysis tools (Blogtracker and VTracker), assisting NATO Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, European Defense agencies, the Australian Defense Science and Technology agency’s strategic policy group, the Singapore government, Arkansas Attorney General’s office, among others. Dr. Agarwal serves as a member of the Arkansas AI Task Force, appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Dr. Agarwal participates in the National Tech Innovation Hub launched by the U.S. Department of State to defeat foreign-based propaganda.

Dr. Agarwal’s research contributions lie at the intersection of social computing, behavior-cultural modeling, mitigating cognitive threats, collective action, social cyber forensics, Artificial Intelligence, data mining, machine learning, smart health, and privacy. From Saudi Arabian women's right-to-drive campaigns to Autism awareness campaigns to ISIS' propaganda campaigns to anti-West/anti-NATO influence campaigns to COVID-19 scams to digital manipulation campaigns during elections around the world, at COSMOS, he is directing several projects that have made foundational and applicational contributions to social and computational sciences, particularly in understanding coordinated, multimedia-rich cyber campaigns and mitigating cognitive threats. He has published 12 books and over 400 articles in top-tier peer-reviewed forums with over 5500 citations, including IEEE, ACM, AIS, NATO’s Defense StratCom Journal, Army University Press, CANSOFCOM’s Future Conflict journal, and Baltic Security, among others, with several best paper awards and nominations. His most recent book explores deviant behaviors on the Internet and is published by Springer in their series on cybersecurity. Local, national, and international media, including Bloomberg, US News, KUAR, Arkansas Business, Arkansas Times, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and many others, have covered his work. Over the last several years, Dr. Agarwal has spoken at various public and professional, national and international forums such as NATO’s StratCom COE (Riga, Latvia), DARPA, US Department of State, US Naval Space and Warfare (SPAWAR), US Pentagon’s Strategic Multilevel Assessment groups, US National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Facebook Asia Pacific HQ, Twitter Asia Pacific HQ, US Embassy in Singapore, Singapore Ministry of Communication and Information, NATO Senior Leadership meetings, USIP, among others. He serves as technical advisor to Little Rock-based firms, including through the FinTech Accelerator.

Dr. Agarwal obtained his Ph.D. from Arizona State University with outstanding dissertation recognition. He was recognized as one of 'The New Influentials: 20 In Their 20s' by Arkansas Business. He was recognized with the University-wide Faculty Excellence Award in Research and Creative Endeavors by UALR in 2015 and 2021. Dr. Agarwal received the Social Media Educator of the Year Award at the 21st International Education and Technology Conference. The Arkansas Times featured Dr. Agarwal in their special issue on "Visionary Arkansans”. Dr. Agarwal is an International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA) Fellow, an Arkansas Academy of Computing (AAoC) Fellow, an Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) Fellow in 2018, and a senior member of IEEE. His research was recognized as one of the top 10 solutions for “Countering Cognitive Warfare: The Invisible Threat” by NATO’s Innovation Hub out of 132 teams from the 30 NATO member nations. His COVID-19 Misinformation tracker was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the key technological innovations globally to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit https://agarwalnitin.com for more details or contact him at nxagarwal@ualr.edu.

Contact: agarwal.nitin@gmail.com

Website: https://agarwalnitin.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-agarwal-a1739115/

x/twitter: @agarwalnitin

Abstracts

Title: Fighting Fire with Fire: Developing AI-enhanced Methodologies to Combat AI-enhanced Cognitive Threats

Abstract: As artificial intelligence accelerates the scale and sophistication of cognitive threats (e.g., deepfakes, automated disinformation, and algorithmic manipulation), traditional defenses are no longer sufficient. This keynote explores the paradox of “fighting fire with fire”: leveraging AI itself to detect, disrupt, and counter AI-enhanced cognitive threats. Drawing on advances in social computing, machine learning, and network analysis, the talk highlights innovative methodologies for identifying coordinated multi-modal influence campaigns, authenticating information, and strengthening societal resilience. It also underscores the ethical dilemmas and governance challenges of deploying AI in this adversarial landscape, calling for responsible, human-centered approaches to safeguard truth, trust, and democratic values.

Title: AI + Social Computing for Mitigating Cognitive Threats

Abstract: Artificial intelligence and social computing are rapidly emerging as critical tools for understanding and mitigating cognitive threats such as misinformation, disinformation, polarization, and manipulation in the digital age. This keynote explores how AI-driven analytics, network science, and human-centered design can illuminate hidden patterns of influence and empower societies to build resilience against cognitive vulnerabilities. By integrating computational methods with social insights, we can detect threats earlier, design effective countermeasures, and foster healthier information ecosystems. The talk highlights key challenges, ethical considerations, and opportunities for leveraging AI and social computing to safeguard trust, democracy, and collective well-being.

The Challenges of Human Interaction in the Digital Age

Abstract: In the digital age, human interaction is being reshaped by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, social media, and virtual platforms. While AI-powered systems enhance communication, expand access to knowledge, and create new forms of connection, they also introduce challenges: authenticity versus simulation, algorithmic bias, information overload, and the erosion of empathy in human relationships. This keynote examines how AI transforms the ways we communicate, collaborate, and build trust. By exploring the cultural, social, and ethical dimensions of AI-mediated interaction, it calls for intentional, responsible strategies to ensure technology strengthens, rather than diminishes, our shared humanity.