Australian Government Funds Research to Investigate Human-AI Teams

Researchers will look at how humans and AI can work together in transport, defence, healthcare, manufacturing, and disaster response.

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Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia will investigate how to build the best human-artificial intelligence (AI) teams.

A team led by Professor Paul Salmon will look into how humans and artificial intelligence can work together in multiple industries including transport, defence, and health.

Humans-AI teaming (HAT) can also be referred to as human-agent teaming or human autonomy teaming.

The university said artificial intelligence and humans “don’t have an ideal working relationship yet,” but the funding will help researchers find a solution.

The Queensland based researchers received funding from the Commonwealth government’s Australian Research Council (ARC).

AI and Humans

Professor Salmon said artificial intelligence is often not designed in a way that allows humans to work with it very well. He said it can be a “problematic team member” that increases the likelihood of teamwork failures.

“An autonomous vehicle collision is a good example of where you have very advanced AI, but often it’s not telling its human teammate what it can see and what action needs to be taken, which shows us that team situational awareness and communication are still lacking,” he said.

A driver presents a Cruising Chauffeur, a hands free self-driving system designed for motorways during a media event by Continental to showcase new automotive technologies in Hannover, Germany, on June 20, 2017. Alexander Koerner/Getty Images

The University noted AI is being adopted globally in the workplace at a very fast rate in healthcare, aviation, defence, transport and disaster response, citing robot-assisted surgery and driverless cars as examples.

Professor Salmon said there are “human potential benefits” but AI is complex is often not designed to work in teams or with consideration for how humans are going to interact with it.

“A lot of research exists on the psychology of human teams, but now we need a basic understanding of what teamwork looks like when you have humans and AI working together,” he said.

[video width=“640” height=“360” mp4=“https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2023/10/01/id5520746-Driverless-car-San-Fran.mp4”][/video]

A self-driving car loops around the streets of San Francisco. (Monica O'Shea/The Epoch Times)

Funding Grant

In a description of successful projects, the ARC said HATS could “potentially enhance most aspects of our daily lives,” noting there are currently knowledge gaps around HAT functioning and how to achieve the best HAT performance.

“This research will apply a novel integration of systems analysis and computational modelling methods to develop, test, and validate a new model of teamwork in HATs,” the ARC said.

“The model will clarify the processes and behaviours that support optimal HAT functioning, delineate HAT performance measures, and help to identify strategies to optimise HAT performance. ”

The ARC explained the outcomes of the research could form a basis for future research into HATS, delivering potential results in industries including defence, transport, healthcare, manufacturing, and disaster response.

The latest round of Discovery Project funding was one of multiple projects announced by the ARC on Oct. 30. The University of the Sunshine Coast was awarded $603,955 (US$383,000) from the government.

University of Southern Queensland vice-chancellor and president Helen Bartlett said, “We are delighted, that as a regional Australian university, we are at the forefront of new globally important research to build knowledge in these areas.”