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12/02/2025 10:06

Robust Decisions in Natural and Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Kristina Nienhaus Medien und News
Universität Bielefeld

    Every day, humans and animals make numerous decisions – often quickly and often under conditions of uncertainty. Artificial intelligence also faces this problem: the more autonomously systems act, the more they have to decide for themselves. However, AI processes are often complex, computationally intensive, and inflexible in new situations. The international research group “Robust Decision Heuristics for Natural and Artificial Intelligence” at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) at Bielefeld University is dedicated to addressing precisely this challenge. The first workshop will take place from December 8 to 19.

    Researchers ask: What can AI learn from the robust decision-making strategies of humans and animals? And conversely, can AI models help us better understand natural decision-making processes?

    In psychology, this field is called “decision making under uncertainty.” Depending on the situation, humans use quick gut decisions or thorough deliberation. These are never perfect, but they work reliably enough. AI systems, on the other hand, often struggle when conditions change.

    “AI methods are mostly based on complex mathematical models. They are difficult to understand and not designed for dynamic environments,” says robotics researcher Professor Mohan Sridharan (University of Edinburgh). He heads the group together with computer scientist Professor Özgür Şimşek (University of Bath), behavioral scientist Professor Konstantinos Katsikopoulos (Southampton), and psychologist Professor Gerd Gigerenzer (Berlin).

    Together with international guests, they want to develop new algorithms for robust, transparent AI, inspired by natural decision-making processes. They are particularly interested in insects and their comparatively simple decision-making mechanisms. The goal is to create AI systems that, like humans and animals, master multiple decision-making strategies and choose for themselves when which one makes sense. At the same time, they want to examine whether technical models can help to map natural decisions more precisely.
    Until August 2028, the members of the research group will meet regularly at the ZiF with alternating guest researchers.

    The working language is English. Journalists are invited to report on the event. The organizers are availa-ble to answer any questions.


    Contact for scientific information:

    Maren Winkelhage, Universität Bielefeld
    Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung (ZiF)
    E-Mail: zif-group-support@uni-bielefeld.de


    More information:

    https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/einrichtungen/zif/groups/ongoing/robust-decision-he... Website oft he research group


    Images

    The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research at Bielefeld University
    The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research at Bielefeld University
    Source: v. Mette
    Copyright: ZiF


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists, Scientists and scholars, Students, all interested persons
    Biology, Information technology, Philosophy / ethics, Psychology, Social studies
    transregional, national
    Miscellaneous scientific news/publications, Research projects
    English


     

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