AI as team player

Founded in 2021 at the University of Stuttgart, the Interchange Forum for Reflecting on Intelligent Systems (IRIS) examines the societal impacts of intelligent systems. Researchers analyze ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence, develop educational programs to foster a critical approach to AI technologies, and create formats that promote dialogue with the public. 

In 2025, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts (MWK) approved the “Human-Intelligent Systems Teaming” (HISIT) project, which was proposed by the IRIS project leadership team consisting of Prof. Steffen Staab and Prof. Maria Wirzberger. This has resulted in six interdisciplinary research projects that examine human-AI collaboration in various fields. All six research teams have begun their work. The two speakers share insights.

Staab: One thing is clear: those who don't use AI will fall behind. Ideally, we will use the potential of AI responsibly in the future to advance the interests of humanity.

Wirzberger: It is important that not only technology continues to evolve, but that we do as well. In the future, the best possible scenario, is that we will have trained people who are capable of handling intelligent systems. In other words, people who don't blindly delegate tasks to AI, but rather collaborate with it in a conscious and thoughtful manner.

Staab: To identify topics, we adopted a bottom-up approach. Researchers from all disciplines at the University of Stuttgart were invited to submit their ideas. The projects are correspondingly diverse. What makes them special is that in every IRIS project, researchers from different disciplines work together in pairs. The project involves researchers from the fields of IT, engineering, physics, visualization, social sciences, psychology, philosophy, and linguistics.

For example, one team is investigating how humans and AI can cooperate effectively when reviewing environmental and sustainability reports in the construction industry. In another project, researchers are investigating how robots can adapt their behavior in real time when working with humans – for example, by using body language. A third project examines how users implicitly attribute authority to AI through their questions, and how AI should respond cooperatively while avoiding the appearance of expert knowledge.

Wirzberger: To understand the multifaceted implications of AI, we need to consider it from various perspectives. For example, Prof. Zamira Daw from the Institute of Aircraft Systems and I have teamed up to study human-AI collaboration in the aircraft cockpit. The challenge is to advance the technology in such a way that it meets the aviation industry’s stringent safety requirements – an aspect being studied by engineer Prof. Zamira Daw. At the same time, the use of AI is changing the job description for pilots. As a psychologist, I want to understand what development measures people need so that the human-AI team can work together efficiently and with mutual trust.

Wirzberger: Successful interdisciplinary research requires a deep engagement with unfamiliar fields, approaching questions from multiple perspectives, adopting diverse methodological frameworks, and drawing on the complementary strengths of collaborators. That requires a great deal of openness and patience. It’s important to talk things through and ask each other: What does this term mean to you? What do you think about this?

Incidentally, this approach to research is nothing new for many IRIS researchers. At the University of Stuttgart, the “Stuttgart Way” – its distinctive interdisciplinary philosophy – has long been a central part of the university’s culture. I find this deeply enriching. Interdisciplinary projects like those at IRIS also offer researchers an opportunity for professional and personal growth.

Staab: This interdisciplinary approach creates exciting opportunities to investigate emerging research questions at the intersection of multiple disciplines. IRIS focuses on seed funding – initial financing designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and provide an opportunity to develop a promising idea into a research project that can be used to apply for external funding once the grant period ends.

Wirzberger: In the future, we aim to place greater emphasis on integrating numerous small projects into a cohesive whole. For example, we are currently working on our first major collaborative publications. Our goal is to promote the IRIS mindset within the scientific community.

Staab: A research training program – a structured training program for doctoral students focused on the societal impacts of AI technologies – would also be a good way to achieve this. We are currently developing ideas and concepts for this as well.

Read more: In an interview with the Cyber Valley network, Prof. Wirzberger and Prof. Staab look back on key moments since IRIS was founded in 2021.