Research
Research
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Where
I am currently pursuing an interdisciplinary PhD in Human-Centred AI at the University of Southampton's Web Science Institute.
What
My research focuses on the governance of generative AI in the context of the UK creative industries. Specifically, identifying the policies, procedures, controls, and mechanisms that can address the competing tensions and emerging risks posed by this technology in and around this domain.
Why
Underpinning this research are my two careers prior to academia. Firstly, I spent over 15 years at the Corporate & Investment Bank J.P. Morgan Chase & Co; where I held several governance-based roles, spanning from accounting, regulatory reporting, through to leading internal audits. The last few years of my time there were focused on audit data analytics, where I served as a product owner for data-driven (including AI/ML) solutions to enhance the analytical capabilities and productivity of the global Internal Audit department, which comprises 1,300+ auditors. In parallel with that career, I worked for years as a freelance composer and sound designer for indie video games (and occasionally other media), including working with friends and family to develop our own indie games. It is my hope that my time working in those industries can help bridge the (heated, controversial, polarised) gaps between the pursuit of productivity and technological innovation (especially in large corporations), against the industries that exist to educate, entertain, inspire, and enrich the cultural landscape for all of us. Wish me luck.
Contact
If you would like to discuss this research area or other opportunities, feel free to reach out through my university email or via LinkedIn. My ORCHID record and CV are also available in case you're tripping over yourself to learn even more about my experiences and interests.
Research Interests
Research Interests
As my research spans multiple domains, my interests include Web Science, AI Governance, Science & Technology Studies, Computational Social Science, Deliberative Democracy, Digital Humanities, and Discourse Analysis.
Select Publications
Select Publications
Javanshir, Matt. 2026. "Parliament of Things: UK Public Policy, Generative Artificial Intelligence, and the Creative Industries." In Companion Publication of the 2026 18th ACM Web Science Conference (WebSci Companion '26), 83–86. New York, NY: Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3795513.3807422
Abstract: Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and the creative industries are embroiled in an existential controversy regarding the role of copyrighted creative works. While ongoing research examines the effects of GenAI on creative work in society and the governance of GenAI as a technology, there is limited research that examines this as a single network of associations through the lens of UK public policy. This paper applies Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as an interdisciplinary framework to conceptualise a network and discuss its associations. This paper argues that a) this network is a continuation of an existing paradigm that emerged with platform capitalism, b) that neoliberal characteristics are the key values driving the coalescence of this network, c) the concentration of corporations that represent several parts of the network create an oligopolistic environment where participation is coercive, and d) the long-term stability of this network depends on the extent and nature to which copyright, intellectual property, competition, and other related laws and norms are interpreted and applied.
Javanshir, Matthew Mahmood, Alistair Sackley, and Thomas Irvine. 2026. “Creative Sovereignty as National Security - A Governance Framework for Generative AI”. WSI Policy Papers, 02. University of Southampton. https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WSI-WP016.
Abstract: This paper argues that the UK faces a growing governance deficit as generative AI systems absorb and monetise British creative output without enforceable domestic control. As AI becomes infrastructure for cultural production and economic value, the UK risks losing creative sovereignty. The authors propose a structured‑permission model requiring compulsory licensing, transparent provenance reporting, and conditional market access for AI developers. A creative sovereignty levy, a purpose‑based trust to distribute proceeds, and an independent audit utility form the core of the framework. Together, these measures realign incentives, enhance accountability, and strengthen the long‑term resilience of the UK’s creative economy.
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