Antonio Rago

Research

My current research focuses on the definition, implementation and evaluation of methods for explainable AI, particularly those which utilise computational argumentation. I am interested in symbolic AI in general, notably argumentation frameworks and their semantics, along with their mathematical properties and their applications. I am also very interested in how symbolic methods can be used to supplement data-driven methods towards AI systems which can truly benefit society.

Application areas of my research include: engineering design, opinion polling, e-learning, streaming platforms, Formula One race strategy and judgmental forecasting.

Publications

2025

• Argumentative Large Language Models for Explainable and Contestable Decision-Making
  G. Freedman, A. Dejl, D. Gorur, X. Yin, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 39th AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI 2025)
• Explainable Reinforcement Learning for Formula One Race Strategy
  D. Thomas, J. Jiang, A. Kori, A. Russo, S. Winkler, S. Sale, J. McMillan, F. Belardinelli & A. Rago
  Proceedings of the 40th ACM/SIGAPP Symposium on Applied Computing (SAC 2025)
• Explainable Time Series Prediction of Tyre Energy in Formula One Race Strategy
  J. Todd, J. Jiang, A. Russo, S. Winkler, S. Sale, J. McMillan & A. Rago
  Proceedings of the 40th ACM/SIGAPP Symposium on Applied Computing (SAC 2025)
• Can Large Language Models perform Relation-based Argument Mining?
  D. Gorur, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 31st International Conference on Computational Linguistics (COLING 2025)
• Aggregating Bipolar Opinions through Bipolar Assumption-based Argumentation
  C. Dickie, S. Lauren, F. Belardinelli, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (JAAMAS)

2024

• A Little of That Human Touch: Achieving Human-Centric Explainable AI via Argumentation
  A. Rago
  Proceedings of the Thirty-third International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI 2024)
• Robust Counterfactual Explanations in Machine Learning: A Survey
  J. Jiang, F. Leofante, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the Thirty-third International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI 2024)
• Advancing Interactive Explainable AI via Belief Change Theory
  A. Rago & M.V. Martinez
  Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR 2024)
• Contestable AI needs Computational Argumentation
  F. Leofante, H. Ayoobi, A. Dejl, G. Freedman, D. Gorur, J. Jiang, G. Paulino-Passos, A. Rago, A. Rapberger, F. Russo, X. Yin, D. Zhang & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR 2024)
• Recourse under Model Multiplicity via Argumentative Ensembling
  J. Jiang, F. Leofante, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS 2024)
• Integrating User Preferences into Gradual Bipolar Argumentation for Personalised Decision Support
  E. Battaglia, P. Baroni, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Scalable Uncertainty Management, 16th International Conference (SUM 2024)
• Interval Abstractions for Robust Counterfactual Explanations
  J. Jiang, F. Leofante, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Artificial Intelligence (AIJ)
• Predicting Human Judgement in Online Debates with Argumentation
  B. Oluokun, G. Paulino Passos, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 24th Workshop on Computational Models of Natural Argument (CMNA 2024)

2023

• Formalising the Robustness of Counterfactual Explanations for Neural Networks
  J. Jiang, F. Leofante, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 37th AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI 2023)
• Interactive Explanations by Conflict Resolution via Argumentative Exchanges
  A. Rago, H. Li & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR 2023)
• Provably Robust and Plausible Counterfactual Explanations for Neural Networks via Robust Optimisation
  J. Jiang, J. Lan, F. Leofante, A. Rago and F. Toni
  Asian Conference on Machine Learning (ACML 2023)
• Achieving descriptive accuracy in explanations via argumentation: The case of probabilistic classifiers
  E. Albini, A. Rago, P. Baroni & F. Toni
  Frontiers
• Explaining Classifiers' Outputs with Causal Models and Argumentation
  A. Rago, F. Russo, E. Albini, P. Baroni & F. Toni
  IfCoLog Journal of Logics and their Applications
• ROAD2H: Development and evaluation of an open-source explainable artificial intelligence approach for managing co-morbidity and clinical guidelines
  J. Domínguez, D. Prociuk, B. Marovic, K. Cyras, O. Cocarascu, F. Ruiz, E. Mi, E. Mi, C. Ramtale, A. Rago, A. Darzi, F. Toni, V. Curcin & B. Delaney
  Learning Health Systems
• Forecasting with Jury-Based Probabilistic Argumentation
  F. Toni, A. Rago & K. Cyras
  Journal of Applied Non-Classical Logics
• ArguCast: A System for Online Multi-Forecasting with Gradual Argumentation
  D. Gorur, A. Rago & F. Toni
  1st International Workshop on Argumentation and Applications (Arg&App-23 @ KR 2023)
• The Recourse Problem under Model Multiplicity
  J. Jiang, A. Rago, F. Leofante & F. Toni
  Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Finance Workshop (XAIFIN 2023)

2022

• Explaining Causal Models with Argumentation: the Case of Bi-variate Reinforcement
  A. Rago, P. Baroni and F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR 2022)
• Forecasting Argumentation Frameworks
  B. Irwin, A. Rago and F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR 2022)
• Argumentative Forecasting
  B. Irwin, A. Rago and F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Autonomous Agents and MultiAgent Systems (AAMAS 2022)
• Descriptive Accuracy in Explanations: The Case of Probabilistic Classifiers
  E. Albini, A. Rago, P. Baroni and F. Toni
  Scalable Uncertainty Management, 15th International Conference (SUM 2022)
• Mining Property-driven Graphical Explanations for Data-centric AI from Argumentation Frameworks
  O. Cocarascu, K. Cyras, A. Rago and F. Toni
  Human-Like Machine Intelligence
• Should counterfactual explanations always be data instances?
  J. Jiang, A. Rago and F. Toni
  The Third Workshop on Explainable Logic-Based Knowledge Representation (XLoKR 2022 @ KR 2022)
• Formalising the Robustness of Counterfactual Explanations for Neural Networks
  J. Jiang, F. Leofante, A. Rago and F. Toni
  2nd International Workshop on Explainable AI in Finance (XAI-FIN-22 @ ICAIF 2022)

2021

• Argumentative XAI: A Survey
  K. Cyras, A. Rago, E. Albini, P Baroni & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the Thirtieth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI 2021)
• Argflow: A Toolkit for Deep Argumentative Explanations for Neural Networks
  A. Dejl, P. He, P. Mangal, H. Mohsin, B. Surdu, E. Voinea, E. Albini, P. Lertvittayakumjorn, A. Rago and F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and MultiAgent Systems (AAMAS 2021)
• Influence-Driven Explanations for Bayesian Network Classifiers
  E. Albini, A. Rago, P. Baroni and F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 18th Pacific Rim International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (PRICAI 2021)
• Interpreting and explaining PageRank through argumentation semantics
  E. Albini, P. Baroni, A. Rago and F. Toni
  Intelligenza Artificiale (AIxIA)
• Argumentative Explanations for Interactive Recommendations
  A. Rago, O. Cocarascu, C. Bechlivanidis, D. Lagnado & F. Toni
  Artificial Intelligence (AIJ)
• Forging Argumentative Explanations from Causal Models
  A. Rago, F. Russo, E. Albini, P. Baroni and F. Toni
  5th Workshop on Advances in Argumentation in Artificial Intelligence (AI^3 2021 @ AIxIA 2021)
• Neural QBAFs: Explaining Neural Networks Under LRP-Based Argumentation Frameworks
  P. Sukpanichnant, A. Rago, P. Lertvittayakumjorn and F. Toni
  2nd Italian Workshop on Explainable Artificiale Intelligence (AIxIA 2021)
• LRP-Based Argumentative Explanations for Neural Networks
  P. Sukpanichnant, A. Rago, P. Lertvittayakumjorn and F. Toni
  2nd Italian Workshop on Explainable Artificiale Intelligence (XAI.it 2021 @ AIxIA 2021)

2020

• Relation-Based Counterfactual Explanations for Bayesian Network Classifiers
  E. Albini, A. Rago, P Baroni & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI 2020)
• Argumentation as a Framework for Interactive Explanations for Recommendations
  A. Rago, O. Cocarascu, C. Bechlivanidis & F. Toni
  Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference (KR 2020)
• Explanation via Machine Arguing
  O. Cocarascu, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Reasoning Web 2020 (RW 2020)
• PageRank as an Argumentation Semantics
  E. Albini, P. Baroni, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Computational Models of Argument - Proceedings of COMMA 2020
• Explaining PageRank through Argumentation
  E. Albini, P. Baroni, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Explainable Logic-Based Knowledge Representation (XLoKR 2020 @ KR 2020)

2019

• Extracting Dialogical Explanations for Review Aggregations with Argumentative Dialogical Agents
  O. Cocarascu, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and MultiAgent Systems (AAMAS 2019)
• From Fine-Grained Properties to Broad Principles for Gradual Argumentation: a Principled Spectrum
  P. Baroni, A. Rago & F. Toni
  International Journal of Approximate Reasoning (IJAR)
• From Formal Argumentation to Conversational Systems
  O. Cocarascu, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Conversational Interaction Systems (WCIS 2019 @ SIGIR 2019)
• Gradual Evaluation in Argumentation Frameworks: Methods, Properties and Applications
  A. Rago
  PhD Thesis

2018

• Argumentation-Based Recommendations: Fantastic Explanations and How to Find Them
  A. Rago, O. Cocarascu & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI 2018)
• How Many Properties Do We Need for Gradual Argumentation?
  P. Baroni, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the Thirty-Second AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI 2018)
• On Instantiating Generalised Properties of Gradual Argumentation Frameworks
  A. Rago, P. Baroni & F. Toni
  Scalable Uncertainty Management - 12th International Conference (SUM 2018) Proceedings
• The “Games of Argumentation” Web Platform
  P. Baroni, S. Borsato, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Computational Models of Argument - Proceedings of COMMA 2018 (COMMA 2018)
• Explaining with Argumentation Frameworks Mined from Data
  O. Cocarascu, K. Cyras, A. Rago & F. Toni
  The International Workshop on Dialogue, Explanation and Argumentation in Human-Agent Interaction (DEXAHAI 2018 @ HAI 2018)

2017

• Quantitative Argumentation Debates with Votes for Opinion Polling
  A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Multi-Agent Systems (PRIMA 2017)
• Abstract Games of Argumentation Strategy and Game-Theoretical Argument Strength
  P. Baroni, G. Comini, A. Rago & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Multi-Agent Systems (PRIMA 2017)

2016

• Discontinuity-Free Decision Support with Quantitative Argumentation Debates
  A. Rago, F. Toni, M. Aurisicchio & P. Baroni
  Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR 2016)
• Adapting the DF-QuAD Algorithm to Bipolar Argumentation
  A. Rago, K. Cyras & F. Toni
  Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Systems and Algorithms for Formal Argumentation (SAFA 2016 @ COMMA 2016)

Education

PhD in Computing

Imperial College London - Jan 2019
Computational Logic & Argumentation | Artificial Intelligence
Thesis: "Gradual Evaluation in Argumentation Frameworks: Methods, Properties and Applications"
Supervisors: Prof. Francesca Toni & Dr. Marco Aurisicchio
EPSRC Scholarship

MEng in Automotive Engineering (with Diploma in Industrial Studies)

Loughborough University - Sep 2012
Vehicle Dynamics & Handling | Control Engineering
1^st Class Honours
Thesis: "Application of a Reaction Wheel Actuator for Motorcycle Control"
Supervisor: Dr. George Mavros

Professional Experience

Events and Activities

• Argumentation and Machine Learning Tutorial (Organiser) @ KR 2024, Hanoi, Vietnam, November 2024
• ArgXAI-24: 2nd International Workshop on Argumentation for eXplainable AI (Organiser) @ COMMA 2024, Hagen, Germany, September 2022
• UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Visiting Researcher Programme (The Alan Turing Institute) - Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, October 2023
• Arg&App 2023: The 1st International Workshop on Argumentation and Applications (Organiser) @ KR 2023, Rhodes, Greece, September 2023
• ArgXAI-22: 1st International Workshop on Argumentation for eXplainable AI (Organiser) @ COMMA 2022, Cardiff, UK, September 2022
• Explainable AI Seminars (Organiser) - Imperial College London, UK, January 2020 - September 2022
• AI@Imperial: explAIn Workshop 2021 (Organiser) - Imperial College London, UK, July 2021
• Argumentative Explanations in AI Tutorial (Organiser) @ KR 2020, Virtual, September 2020
• Argumentative Explanations in AI Tutorial (Organiser) @ ECAI 2020, Virtual, August 2020
• Explanation via Machine Arguing Tutorial (Organiser) @ Reasoning Web Summer School 2020, Virtual, June 2020
• AI@Imperial: explAIn Workshop 2018 (Organiser) - Imperial College London, UK, April 2018
• Institut Français: Night of Ideas 2018 Demo - Imperial College London, UK, January 2018
• Imperial College London AI Fringe 2018 Demo - Imperial College London, UK, January 2018
• Ingeniería 2030: Exchange Scholarship - Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile, March-May 2017
• Imperial-MIT Global Fellows Programme 2016 - Easthampstead Park, UK, June 2016