Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly associated with automation, enhanced efficiency, and the potential to replace humans in specific societal roles. However, my research focuses on hybrid intelligence, which emphasizes the augmentation of human skills and capacities through AI collaboration. In particular, I explore human-AI co-creative tools designed to foster public engagement in societal and civic dialogues. 

One such project, crea.visions, empowers the public to co-create images and narratives on pressing issues like climate change. This talk will highlight several completed and upcoming projects, including a study on human-AI co-creation to personalize and enhance climate change communication. Our findings revealed that creating visualizations evoked diverse effects on participants, such as emotional engagement, profound reflection, and intentions to take action. Key psychological factors—including psychological distance, place attachment, and self-efficacy—played significant roles in shaping these responses.

Another upcoming study introduces the innovative Give-and-Get-Survey, a tool designed to scale public participation in addressing green transition challenges. This survey model incentivizes citizen involvement by offering AI-generated visual rewards, aiming to enhance engagement and promote lasting behavioral change. This work is in conjunction with  Aarhus Kommune - ITK, Magistratsafdeling for Kultur og Borgerservice. 

Short Bio

Dr. Rafner is Junior Center Director at the Center for Hybrid Intelligence and affiliated researcher at the Interacting Minds Center at Aarhus University in Denmark. Her current research focuses on citizen science, participatory futures, psychometric creativity assessment, computational co-creativity, and human-AI interaction. Dr. Rafner has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Sonophillia Foundation Research Award, a Fulbright Fellowship, a Salzburg Global Fellowship, and the 2023 CircleU Interdisciplinary Research Award.  

What is an AIAS Seminar?

The AIAS Seminar Series is a session of seminars held by the AIAS fellows, AIAS Visiting or Tandem Fellows or by other speakers proposed by the fellows. In each seminar, a fellow will present and discuss her/his current research and work-in-progress to an interdisciplinary audience for 30 minutes, closing off with 30 minutes for questions, comments and discussion.

All seminars are in-person and held in English. To attend online, please contact Sofia Bentsen at sofia@aias.au.dk by 9:00am on the day of the semimar as the latest to request a link.