HCAI 5 - Anthropomorphising AI with Jonas Ivarsson

This episode’s guest is Ben Shneiderman, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of Maryland and co-founder of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab. Shneiderman reflects on his pioneering career spanning direct manipulation, information visualization, and decades of advocacy for human-centered design. He traces his path from traditional computer science to a deep engagement with psychology and user interface design, and he explains why human-centered AI must focus on amplifying, augmenting, empowering, and enhancing human performance rather than creating anthropomorphic agents.Ben is the author of the book Human-Centered AI https://global.oup.com/academic/product/human-centered-ai-9780192845290?cc=ca&lang=en&The episode was recorded on November 24, 2025

This episode's guest is Mark Coeckelbergh, Professor of Philosophy of Technology and Media at the University of Vienna. Coeckelbergh discusses his views on AI, its definition, the importance of ethical values and human-centered design, and the political and societal implications of AI. The conversation covers various aspects such as AI regulation, the role of users and developers, and the potential future of AI within society.

The eleventh episode of the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence podcast, where Alan Said and Mattias Rost talk to Niklas Elmqvist, Professor of HCI at Aarhus University. Niklas shares his journey through various academic positions and his current research on human-computer interaction and data visualization. He discusses the relationship between AI and HCI, with topics like black-box models, the evolving role of AI in visual analytics, and the concept of human-AI teaming. The conversation also touches on the future integration of generative AI and large language models in various applications, emphasizing the importance of making AI understandable and enhancing human abilities without replacing them.

The tenth episode of the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence podcast, where we talk about Earth-Centered AI with Ricardo Baeza-Yates.

The ninth episode where we talk to Mor Naaman at Cornell Tech about Human-Centered AI-Mediated Communication.

The eighth episode where we talk to Mikael Wiberg about HCI and HCAI.

The seventh episode where we interview Natali Helberger, Professor in Law and Digital Technology, with a special emphasis on Artificial Intelligence at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The sixth episode of the Human Centered Artificial Intelligence podcast where Mattias Rost and Alan Said talks to Joanna Bryson about governing AI.

The fifth episode of Human Centered Artificial Intelligence podcast where we talk to Jonas Ivarsson.

We talk to Daniele Quercia about Urban Informatics and Responsible AI, and its relation to HCAI.