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Artificial Intelligence, Real Consequences: Call for abstracts for a special issue on the psychological dimensions of AI

• written by Magdalena Wischnewski, Michaela Forrai & Stella Wernicke

The special issue (SI) Artificial Intelligence, Real Consequences: Exploring the psychological dimensions of AI aims to make central research on the psychological components of Artificial Intelligence (AI) accessible to the general public.

Motivation of the SI

Rapid developments in the field of AI are reshaping the way we understand and interact with the world around us: From music recommendation engines to influencing elections, AI increasingly influences all aspects of life and society. As AI systems become increasingly sophisticated, the need for a deeper understanding of their cognitive, psychological, and societal implications has never been more urgent. While AI technologies are often viewed through the lens of computational models and algorithms, psychological science offers crucial insights into how these systems interact with human cognition, emotion, and behavior.

This SI of In-Mind aims to bridge the gap between psychology and AI, inviting contributions that explore the psychological foundations of AI, its impact on human minds, and the potential for future integration.

Format of the articles and the journal

In-Mind is dedicated to making relevant psychological research accessible and engaging for everyone. The authors should be active researchers in psychology, neuroscience or related disciplines. Previous experience in science communication is beneficial, but not required. For this special issue, interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in AI-related disciplines such as computer science or engineering are encouraged, but optional. Articles should be short review articles of a maximum of 2,000 words with up to 15 references. 

Potential topics to be addressed

• Domains of society and life that are influenced by AI / ethical and societal challenges posed by AI (e.g., bias, trust, & human autonomy)
• Influences of AI on human experience and behavior
• Human-AI collaboration: cognitive synergies and challenges
• Effects on human cognition, emotions, and behavior
• Human-AI interactions
  • Synthetic relationships / AI companions
  • AI and creativity
  • AI in education
  • …
• The role of psychology in designing AI systems
• Similarities and differences between human and artificial neural networks
• The role of psychological science in shaping AI systems that are transparent, equitable, and human-centered
• The role of AI in (psychological) research: opportunities and ethical challenges

Timeline for the SI

Abstracts of a maximum of 300 words can be submitted here until 31 January 2025. All abstracts will be evaluated by the (guest) editors to assess their suitability for the SI. If deemed appropriate, the authors will be invited to submit a full-length article by 23 March 2025. These submissions will undergo anonymized peer review by at least two independent experts to evaluate their scientific quality. The editors will provide feedback on comprehensibility, language, and suitability for a science communication context. The SI will be published in August 2025.

Important dates

All deadlines refer to 23:59pm in the last time zone worldwide.

• Abstract submission start: 8 January 2025
• Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2025
• Article submission deadline: 23 March 2025
• Expected publication date: August 2025

(Guest) editors

• Magdalena Wischnewski (Research Center for Trustworthy Data Science and Security)
• Michaela Forrai (University of Vienna)
• Stella Wernicke (University of Cambridge)

Questions regarding the SI should be directed to si-ai@in-mind.org. 

Abstracts can be submitted at: https://baserow.io/form/HwaYZUq-PSUaNXJELwpfVnvKyqzXoYe68CMyux-qjpQ