Monash University · Melbourne, Australia

Specification is the
new Programming.

When AI systems fail, the blame goes to the algorithm. The cause is almost always the specification — what the system was told to do, before a line of code was written. I build the science that closes that gap.

Dr Chetan Arora
Dr Chetan Arora
Monash University · Melbourne

About

AI systems should do what we mean — not just what we say.

My research sits at the intersection of Requirements Engineering and AI — focusing on how organisations specify, constrain, and audit intelligent systems where failure has real consequences: space missions, defence systems, clinical AI, and regulated industries navigating emerging AI law. The work spans 3,500+ citations and $2.5M+ in competitive funding.

I have worked on this problem for over a decade — from NLP automation for requirements in 2013 through to RAG-powered RE for space missions in 2024. The current focus is on LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation, and runtime monitoring for AI systems, across four research themes: AI for RE, Responsible AI, Human-Centred SE, and Software Systems & Applications.

I also serve as Director of Education for Monash's Software Systems & Cybersecurity department, where I focus on redesigning how software engineers are trained for an AI-native world.

Industry background

Former Systems Engineer at SES Satellites, Luxembourg — one of the world's largest satellite operators. Industry experience in requirements engineering across space, automotive, and regulatory compliance domains underpins all of the research programme.

International RE Board

Member of the International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB) — the global body for RE professional standards — and the IREB AI Special Interest Group. Board Member and Oceania representative for RE professional standards globally.

WHO & policy engagement

Leading RE and design for Monash–WHO living evidence ecosystems informing health policy across South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. Invited panellist at AU–EU AI governance dialogues; contributor to the EU Strategic Autonomy book (2026).

Research cited by Google

Work cited at SIGCSE 2026 in Google's industry session on how generative AI tools are changing how software engineers work — and where requirements skills remain essential.

Research Focus

Four interconnected research themes.

Explore

Everything in one place.

Research Supervision

PhD Research Team.

An active supervision portfolio spanning AI safety, requirements engineering, healthcare AI ethics, and cultural computing — with students at Monash University and collaborating institutions.

Speaking & Consulting

Let's work together.

Speaking

Available for keynotes, industry panels, government briefings, and podcasts on AI governance, trustworthy AI specification, and the future of software engineering.

  • Specification is the new Programming — the AI accountability gap
  • Agentic AI: when AI systems make decisions autonomously
  • Why most AI failures begin before the code is written
  • LLMs in requirements engineering — what works, what doesn't
  • Regulation-ready AI for space, defence, and healthcare
  • GenAI and the future of software education
  • Australia–India collaboration in AI research and higher education
IEEE RE Keynote EU–AU AI Policy Panels ACM SIGSOFT Schools Industry Podcasts

Consulting & Advisory

I help organisations deploying AI systems get the specification right — before the cost of getting it wrong becomes real. Particularly suited to regulated industries and safety-critical contexts.

  • Agentic AI governance — specs, bounded autonomy, guardrails
  • Regulation-ready AI delivery (GDPR, HIPAA, EU AI Act)
  • Requirements quality audit for safety-critical systems
  • R&D programme structuring for government co-investment
  • Education strategy — AI-resilient assessment and curriculum
  • Senior academic leadership advisory
  • Australia–India research and education partnership development
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Get in Touch

Ready to talk?

Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker, a research collaborator, an advisor on trustworthy AI, or a partner for an industry R&D project — I'd like to hear from you.