One research programme, clearly organised
Core research
Governance mechanisms
Application settings
Methods & theory
International engagement
Public academic & research profile · v2.2
Lei Gao
高磊 · Gao Lei
AI Governance & Operational Human Oversight Researcher
Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies (CATS), Heidelberg University · 2026–2027
My research examines how human authority can remain operational in increasingly autonomous and agentic AI systems — through intervention, escalation, qualified review, override, suspension, revalidation, resumption and accountable evidence.
Profile map
Professional background
Higher-education experience and academic training
Taizhou University, China · 2012–Present
University staff; 14 years in higher education. Experience includes laboratory administration, elective-course teaching, curriculum development and student innovation-project supervision.
Heidelberg University · CATS · 2026–2027
Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies.
Seokyeong University · Expected February 2027
PhD in Global Management; thesis submitted; expected degree conferral: February 2027.
Previous education
MBA, Kyungpook National University (2011); Bachelor's degree, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (2006).
Career and education details are author-stated. Private appointment and degree documents are not published; see the Verification page for source boundaries.
Research
Operational Human Oversight for autonomous and agentic systems
My current work focuses on translating high-level Responsible AI principles into operational governance mechanisms: where human authority should be triggered, how escalation should work, who is qualified to intervene, what actions are permitted, and what evidence should be preserved.
Human OversightIntervention triggers, escalation, qualified review and override authority.
Agentic AI GovernanceDelegation, bounded autonomy, suspension, rollback and return-to-operation.
Smart Sustainable CitiesHuman authority and accountability in AI-enabled urban systems.
Algorithmic FrictionGovernance points that preserve judgment and accountability inside automated systems.
Selected record
Publications and public research activity
2026
CEO digital background and corporate digitalization: the role of regional policy
Finance Research Letters, Vol. 88, Article 109135.
2026
Algorithmic Friction and Yin-Yang Cybernetics: Reconstructing the Foundational Logic of System Dynamics in the Age of AI
International System Dynamics Conference 2026.
2026
Theme #16 — Operational Human Oversight Integration for Agentic AI Trust Systems
Public working proposal in the ITU-T FG-TIDA themes repository; proposer: Lei Gao.
2026
FGAI4SSC-I-015 — Human Oversight in AI-enabled Smart Sustainable Cities
Formal input document to ITU-T FG-AI4SSC; subsequently assigned to WG4 for follow-up within the Focus Group process. WG4 assignment does not imply adoption, endorsement or standardization.
2026
U4SSC-DT-WG8-DOC039 — Operational Human Oversight
Working-group contribution within U4SSC Digital Transformation WG8, extending operational human-oversight mechanisms into people-centred digital and AI-enabled city services.
30 October 2026 update
Theme #16 — current working position
Public working proposalProposer: Lei GaoStatus checked: 30 October 2026
- Working baseline: Consolidated Working Structure v1; Matrix v0.2 and the published UC-6 calibration remain unchanged.
- Candidate D1 Requirements v0.1: shared for technical review; not an adopted requirement set.
- Operator-facing assessment: currently a candidate “operator-facing experimental assessment package”; prerequisites remain under discussion. It is not experiment-ready and does not demonstrate validated oversight effectiveness.
As proposer, Lei Gao has contributed to working-structure synthesis, candidate requirements drafting and coordination of the technical discussion. This describes contributions within an open working process, not a formally appointed Working Group leadership role.
Preparatory working materials only; not an adopted ITU-T specification, Working Group charter, formal deliverable or institutional decision.
Theme #16 public thread ↗ · Candidate D1 review note ↗ · Operator-facing assessment discussion ↗
Institutional context
Heidelberg and international research context
Heidelberg University
Visiting Research Fellow at CATS for 2026–2027. Academic correspondence: lei.gao@uni-heidelberg.de.
Heidelberg University Bibliography (heiBIB)
Official bibliographic author record maintained by Heidelberg University Library and linked to ORCID. View heiBIB Author Profile ↗
FG-AI4SSC
Official ITU Focus Group on AI for Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities. ITU cities portal ↗
U4SSC
United for Smart Sustainable Cities, coordinated by ITU, UNECE and UN-Habitat. Official initiative ↗
International Digital Governance Committee (IDGC)
Regional Director, Asia-Pacific. IDGC’s official profile identifies Lei Gao as the region’s point of contact for research dialogue on AI governance, digital institutions and emerging digital policy. Official IDGC profile ↗
This site is self-maintained. heiBIB is described accurately as a Heidelberg University Bibliography author record, not as a general Heidelberg University researcher profile. The IDGC regional role is separate from the Heidelberg visiting appointment.
Emerging research agenda
Human Oversight under Institutional Disruption and Crisis
This line extends the core Operational Human Oversight programme into high-disruption settings, including prolonged emergencies and the recovery of essential public services. The central question remains how legitimate human control can be preserved, constrained and restored when ordinary oversight conditions fail.
In developmentInstitutional resilienceAuthority recoveryPublic-service continuity
A developing research agenda, not a completed project, validated framework or published empirical case.
Contact
Separate academic and project correspondence
Academic & research correspondence
Research collaboration, publications, academic invitations and university matters.
AI governance & international projects
Multilateral, policy, institutional and project-based collaboration.
The two addresses separate communication contexts; neither implies institutional endorsement of work conducted through the other channel.