PhD Courses in Denmark

Human-Centered AI

The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design at Aalborg University

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. 

Liberating Structures: Liberating Structures (LS) are a collection of easy-to-learn interaction methods that enhance relational coordination and trust among participants. Unlike traditional frontal lecturing, LS methods focus on interactive workshops where everyone participates actively. These structures enable all participants to contribute to shaping the direction and outcomes of the course by structuring how people interact and collaborate. LS methods are designed to include and unleash everyone’s contributions in ways that are productive and engaging. Key Liberating Structures used in this course include: 

  • 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

For additional information, updates, and registration, please refer to AAU PhD Moodle via the link provided on the right side of this page.