RESEARCH
My research belongs to the interdisciplinary field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
where I have a strong interest in understanding and studying how people experience and interact with AI
in everyday life contexts. Within the HCI research community I have positioned myself as a
theory-driven researcher working on human-AI interaction across various domains of application (e.g.,
social
robots, recommender systems, robot process automation, agentic AI, autonomous vehicles) with a special focus
on the intersections of trust and explanations.
To extend my expertise and to
pursue a habilitation in HCI
at University of Salzburg, I am currently working towards a comprehensive and systematic analysis
of mistrust and distrust in AI. Understanding and studying the so-called “dark side of
trust” in the specific context of human-AI interaction is important for tackling the black-box problem of
complex AI
systems, and I wish to fill
this research gap by investigating why people are unwilling to trust in AI.
More generally, my research
covers the following broader topics.
Conceptual Analysis, Modelling, and Engineering
My research focuses on clarifying and advancing complex social and ethical concepts in human-AI interaction such as trust, agency, explainability, and vulnerability. I combine these theoretical perspectives with system development to ensure that concepts are not only clearly defined in theory but can also be meaningfully implemented in practice. By connecting conceptual work with challenges in science and engineering, I help create a stronger foundation for theory-driven human-AI interaction research and support the development of AI systems that are socially aware and ethically grounded.
Online User Research Studies
I am particularly interested in developing and refining user research methods used to study human-AI interaction in online settings. I design and implement interactive experimental setups that make use of digital platforms to conduct research in ways that are scalable, diverse, and closer to real-world contexts. By expanding the methodological possibilities of online experimentation, I contribute to more robust, reproducible, ecologically valid, and innovative research practices. As such, my work enables deeper insights into user behavior and supports the development of AI systems that respond more effectively to social contexts and human needs or preferences.
Methodological and Metaphilosophical Perspectives
I work across disciplinary boundaries to address foundamental questions in human-AI interaction and Computer Science more broadly. I am interested in how different disciplines and methodologies frame and define core problems in AI. By applying philosophical methods such as critical reflection and careful analysis of underlying assumptions, I question and constructively inform mainstream approaches to AI. My meta-level perspective allows me to also reflect on the epistemological foundations of philosophy. In doing so, I strengthen the methodological basis of interdiciplinary work and underscores the essential role of the humanities and social sciences in addressing complex and unresolved challenges in AI research.
Contact me via email if you like to arrange an informal meeting about my research for knowledge exchange or potential collaboration.
#Human Nature#AI Systems#Trust Research