Human-Centered AI

Welcome to Human-Centered AI

Description: Artificial Intelligence has experienced a tremendous increase in attention in recent years across all sectors, including health, transportation, finance, construction, and entertainment. In the realm of software engineering, integrating AI in a human-centered manner is crucial for ensuring that these technologies enhance human capabilities and maintain ethical integrity. Ben Shneiderman envisions "computing devices that dramatically amplify human abilities, empowering people and ensuring human control." He proposes that "Human-Centered AI (HCAI) enables people to see, think, create, and act in extraordinary ways, by combining potent user experiences with embedded AI support services that users want."
This three-day PhD course, inspired by the Copenhagen Manifesto, explores the intersection of AI and software engineering, focusing on human-centric design principles and ethical considerations. Participants will focus into the core values of human-centered AI, such as responsibility, ethics, transparency, equity, inclusivity, continuous learning, and environmental sustainability.
The course is structured to provide an interactive and comprehensive learning experience, utilizing Liberating Structures to facilitate active engagement and collaboration. Participants will:

• Understand the foundational principles of human-centered AI and their application in software engineering. 
• Explore strategies for designing AI systems that prioritize human needs, transparency, and equity. 
• Develop practical skills in implementing and evaluating human-centered AI technologies. 
• Reflect on the ethical implications and societal impact of AI in software engineering. 
• By the end of the course, participants will have a robust understanding of how to integrate human-centered principles into their work, ensuring that AI technologies serve the common good and promote human wellbeing. 

• Impromptu Networking: A rapid process for initiating connections and conversations between participants, fostering quick and meaningful engagement.
• 1-2-4-All: A structured way of having everyone generate ideas and share them, starting individually, then in pairs, groups of four, and finally with the entire group. 
• TRIZ: A problem-solving method that involves identifying everything that could lead to the worst possible result, and then flipping these to find innovative solutions. 
• Conversation Café: A lightly structured method for hosting group dialogues that encourage thoughtful and inclusive conversation. 
• Open Space Technology: A participant-driven process where individuals propose and lead sessions on topics they are passionate about.

Prerequisites: None

Learning objectives: By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the foundational principles of human-centered AI and their relevance to software engineering research and practice.
• Critically evaluate AI systems with respect to responsibility, ethics, transparency, equity, inclusivity, continuous learning, and environmental sustainability.
• Apply human-centered design strategies to conceptualize AI systems that prioritize human needs and agency.
• Select and use appropriate methods (e.g., Liberating Structures) to facilitate participatory design and interdisciplinary collaboration in AI projects.
• Identify and mitigate ethical and societal risks in AI development, using established frameworks and case studies.
• Integrate human-centered AI principles into their own research projects to enhance both academic rigor and societal impact.

Organizer: Daniel Russo

Lecturers: Daniel Russo

ECTS: 3.0

Date: 27, 28, 29 October 2026

Place: Aalborg University

City: Copenhagen

Maximal number of participants: 20

Open for enrolment: 27 June 2026

Deadline for enrolment: 6 October 2026

Important information concerning PhD courses: There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

You may find more information in our FAQ: https://phd.moodle.aau.dk/local/page/faq 

For inquiries not described in the FAQ, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk. When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.