Human-centric AI as a partner: models for augmenting creativity and expertise in industry 5.0

The paradigm of Industry 5.0 calls for a transformative shift from pure automation and efficiency towards establishing a human-centric, sustainable, and resilient value-creation ecosystem. Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) emphasises that AI systems should be inspired by human intelligence, guided by human impact/experience, and augment human abilities rather than replace humans. To examine the growing trend of deep integration between AI and human intelligence in industries, this issue compiles 18 articles that collectively advance the vision of harmonising technological prowess with human intelligence. Core advancements identified include coordination across physical and cognitive levels, operationalising human-centricity into concrete methods, the pivotal role of structured knowledge in human-machine fusion, and GenAI as a new, empowering interface. Despite progress, key challenges persist, such as ensuring explainability and trustworthiness in complex manufacturing systems, enabling lifelong adaptation in dynamic environments, integrating ethics and data privacy, and fostering interdisciplinary convergence. The future of manufacturing lies in socio-technical systems where humans are at the centre of innovation, and technology serves as a partner to enhance well-being, creativity, and sustainability. It is anticipated that this special issue will lay the foundation for unlocking the power of HCAI during the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0.