What Does ‘Human-Centred AI’ Mean?

Read full text
Authors: Olivia Guest
Cited by: 1
References: 188

Abstract

While it seems sensible that human-centred artificial intelligence (AI) means centring "human behaviour and experience," it cannot be any other way. AI, I argue, is usefully seen as a relationship between technology and humans where it appears that artefacts can perform, to a greater or lesser extent, human cognitive labour. This is evinced using examples that juxtapose technology with cognition, inter alia: abacus versus mental arithmetic; alarm clock versus knocker-upper; camera versus vision; and sweatshop versus tailor. Using novel definitions and analyses, sociotechnical relationships can be seen as varying types of: displacement (harmful), enhancement (beneficial), and/or replacement (neutral) of human cognitive labour. Ultimately, all AI implicates human cognition; no matter what. Obfuscation of cognition in the AI context-from clocks to artificial neural networks-results in distortion, in slowing critical engagement, perverting cognitive science, and indeed in limiting our ability to truly centre humans and humanity in the engineering of AI systems. To even begin to de-fetishise AI, we must look the human-in-the-loop in the eyes.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Neuroethics Human Enhancement Biomedical Innovations Ethics and Social Impacts of AI Embodied and Extended Cognition

Publication details

Journal / source
Behavioral Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
16
Issue
4
Pages
583–583
Publication date
13 April 2026
Language
EN