Dr Farshad Badie, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Informatics, Berlin School of Business and Innovation, explores how AI and robotics can incorporate human-centred values to complement our experiences.
When I think about the rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, I am both excited and cautious. In my opinion, these technologies (and, in fact, systems) have significant potential to reshape all industries and improve our daily lives. But along with such a promise comes a challenge: How do we ensure these systems serve us in ways that are truly meaningful?
How can we design robots that not only perform tasks but also respect and reflect human beings’ (as well as societies’) values, feelings, and diverse cultural contexts?
Why human-centred values matter in robotics
I see responsible AI development in robotics as being grounded in human-centric principles, including empathy, inclusivity, cultural awareness, and design driven by a clear purpose, integrated at every step. Actually, it’s not enough to create robots that are technically functional or efficient. The designed robots need to be aligned with what truly matters to human beings, both as individuals and as a society.
Take, for example, healthcare robots. Their deployment isn’t just about automation, computation, or precision. It’s about building trust, understanding diverse patient needs, and supporting emotional and human-focused well-being.
A robot that can conceptualise, comprehend, recognise, and respond to humans’ feelings and needs, accommodate cultural differences, and prioritise societal good, exemplifies how technology can complement our human experience.
Designing robots with meaning in mind
I believe that integrating human-centred values requires a thoughtful and, of course, complicated approach – one that prioritises reflective design and active stakeholder engagement. Just as in responsible education where learners are encouraged to conceptualise and re-conceptualise core and fundamental concepts like ‘analysis’, ‘reasoning’, inclusion’, or ‘collaboration’ and to develop values like ‘compassion’ or ‘fairness’, we too must encourage designers and developers of robotics to revisit their assumptions and, correspondingly, to reflect on the societal impacts, and incorporate ethical considerations.
Practically overseeing this might involve multidisciplinary teams that collaborate and cooperate with various communities to interpret and understand diverse needs or embed continuous feedback mechanisms into robotic systems to facilitate ongoing learning and adaptation. Such efforts can help us gradually create systems that are not merely functional but also meaningful, and in fact, systems that align with societal values and nurture human well-being.
The role of AI and human agency
Certainly, technology can assist us in this journey. For instance, various AI tools can help us trace how our conception of concepts like ‘trust’ or ‘empathy’ evolves as we interact with robots or as societal norms change. They can highlight how our initial ideas become developed through reflection and dialogue (much like pedagogical frameworks that facilitate meaning-making and understanding generation).
Ultimately, the responsibility falls on us—researchers, designers, policymakers—to steward technology in ways that promote transparency, inclusivity, and resilience. When we prioritise human agency and ethical innovation, we can design robots that are not only built to perform efficiently but also contribute positively to the societal fabric.
Moving towards a human-centred robotics ecosystem
As I look to the future, I suggest that a genuinely human-centred approach to robotics should foster systems that are adaptable, transparent, and capable of ongoing ethical reflection. We need to ask ourselves: ‘How can we ensure that these advanced systems serve diverse communities and uphold shared human values?’
One way forward is to integrate participatory design practices and reflective dialogues into robotics research. Embedding these principles ensures that robots support human purpose, connection, and societal well-being (and, in fact, the values that endure beyond technological novelty).
Creating systems that empower humans
The journey of embedding human-centred values into artificial intelligence and robotics is ongoing, but it is vital.
In my view, the responsible development of AI in robotics requires not only technical excellence but also a profound commitment to meaning, values, and ethics. It is about creating systems that empower humans, acknowledge their needs, respect their diversity, and help us build a more equitable and caring society.
So, I leave you with this question: How can we, as a global community, better incorporate human values into the design and deployment of tomorrow’s robotic systems?
