The importance of human-centeredness in the development and use of AI systems
Despite the increasing automation levels enabled by AI, the common threat among the various systems is the absence of the human element. Thus, the long-term success of AI depends on our recognition of the importance of people in its design, operation, and use. This means that AI should be developed and used with a focus on meeting the needs and values of humans, rather than being solely driven by technical or economic considerations.
Human-centered AI (HCAI) has increasingly become an important discipline for developing AI systems that augment and amplify instead of displacing human abilities. HCAI is defined as a combination of human-centered design, AI, and machine learning that transforms the way AI system providers utilize, operate, and leverage the data acquired without necessarily developing new algorithms for new tasks.
AI should be designed with humans at the center of the development process. To this end, new forms of human-AI experiences and interactions should be investigated to improve and extend human capabilities for the benefit of clients, products, and the larger society.
A human-first approach ensures that the algorithm appreciates humans as the sole users of the services and products and keeps them as the design’s focal point. This allows humans to become more involved in the implementation of AI.
Humans play a critical role in AI training data since they have the natural capacity to learn, adapt, and perform. Since humans can gain insight and adapt based on their personal experiences, they are a great source of data that can teach machine learning algorithms.
AI should preserve human control in a manner that ensures it meets people’s needs while also respecting privacy, delivering equitable outcomes, and operating transparently. What this also means is that AI should consider the desires, needs, and wants of humans when developing new apps.
By developing machine intelligence with the aim of understanding human behavior, emotion, and language, HCAI pushes the boundaries of previously constrained AI solutions to reduce the gap between human beings and machines.
Examples of AI systems with human-centeredness
- Supertools utilize combinations of HCAI and AI thinking to enhance the acceptance and value of services and products.
- Telebots are designed with features that allow humans to make sensitive, high-level, and crucial decisions. This is evidenced in financial market software, teleoperated robots, and surgical robots.
Recommendations for ensuring human-centeredness in the development and use of AI systems
The following are core areas that should be prioritized in implementing AI in a way that benefits users;
- User Experience: First, it is important to comprehend the user experience. There is a need to first conduct research to comprehend the data and user experience relevant to those interactions.
- Implement AI Solutions: these solutions should be deployed across various touchpoints in order for users to interact with them easily when they need help completing tasks or obtaining more data regarding services/products they are interested in using.
- Test and Measure Results: Test how well these solutions function by developing a prototype for monitoring the number of times users interact with them, their importance, and whether they are satisfied with their engagement experience.