Arcada's new knowledge centre for future human-centred digital solutions emerging

With trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) as one of Arcada’s strengths, it was natural for the UAS to focus on human-centred AI research during the fundraising campaign Arcada 25. A better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of digital solutions is needed, thus interdisciplinary cooperation between education, research and business.

“The new knowledge centre allows us in both teaching and research to develop digital business and service solutions, test them and make them safe and accessible to everyone, with people at the centre," says Christa Tigerstedt, senior lecturer in business administration.

Students' role central for future solutions

In the process of developing safe and user-friendly digital solutions that can be implemented in business and society, the role of students is important given the future need for increased technical understanding.

“Involving students in AI development today is important. They must be prepared for the future and the role AI will have in working life," developer Kristoffer Kuvaja Adolfsson emphasises.

New technology, and not least AI, can lead to scepticism and fear of how it will affect society and one's daily life. In this case, the opponents of fear are curiosity and knowledge. Dennis Biström, senior lecturer in information technology, agrees with his colleague Kuvaja Adolfsson on the importance of the role of students.

“Fear of technology means that we need more knowledge to navigate the new. You can be afraid of AI, but given that we humans control the digital development, the inclusion of students is important towards understanding how it can make our lives better. Many decisions in the future will be made with technology and we can't be afraid of that," he says.

Increased interest in human robotics

An increasing number of degree projects show students' interest and eagerness to anchor their knowledge in AI. Theses in Business Administration and International Business also show curiosity – a curiosity that grows into knowledge and understanding of the potential of the technology, thus overcoming fear.

“The glass doors to the centre's physical space symbolise the curiosity and openness that exists among us," says Biström, referring to all the physical and digital meetings between students, researchers and business representatives in the pursuit of the digital, human-centred solutions of the future.

To make the knowledge centre a reality, technical, audio-visual and IT equipment is currently being purchased. Also on the shopping list are furniture, carpets and soundproofing textiles and, not least, two new humanoid robots to enable research in child-robot interaction. You can read more about the research on how humanoid robots can be ethically integrated into children's day-to-day life in day care centres here: "Come on kids, let’s play”, says the robot – new Arcada project focuses on child-robot interaction.