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22 July 2026 | Keynote: How Do Robots Influence Team Collaboration?

On Wednesday 22 July 2026, we had the honour of hosting Anna M.H. Abrams from RWTH Aachen University for an engaging keynote titled "The R in Team Stands for Robot. Moving Beyond the Assumption that Robots are Socially Categorized like Humans" in our FAITH members session.

Anna shared findings from her experimental research on robots in groups. Even when robots are labelled as "teammates," participants don't always see them that way and generally prefer human teammates over robotic ones, an effect she terms ontology bias. This raises the question of whether "teammate" is even the right framing for robots, or whether we're generally better served viewing them as supporters of human teamwork.

Key Insights

Recognizing ontology bias is crucial for improving collaboration between humans and robots.
Understanding that robots are not equal team contributors can help human teams leverage the strengths of robotic supporters, fostering more effective teamwork.

24 June 2026 | FAITH@BI.research Conference

Artificial Intelligence Agents in the Workplace: Perspectives from Industry, Society and Science

FAITH presented a session on the foundations and implications of human-AI teamwork (HAIT) in industry, society, and science. The session covered a panel discussion followed by a world café. Stakeholders from various sectors discussed what the status quo is regarding AI agents that support us in the workplace, explored questions related to how far these relationships can be characterised as teams as well as how the deployment of such systems can be expected to change the way we work together.

Our panelists were:

Prof. Dr. Ina Pick (Universität Bielefeld)
Dr. Maximilian Panzner (mercury.ai)
Dr. Rainer Borgstedt (Universitätsklinikum OWL / EvKB)
Dr. Tobias Herken (IANUS Simulation)
Dr. Urs Peter Ruf (Technikberatungsstelle NRW)
Prof. Dr. Anja Abendroth (Universität Bielefeld)

06 Mai 2026 | Keynote: How Can Teams Benefit From AI-Team-Members?

In May, we had the privilege of hosting Dr. Désirée Zercher from the University of Mannheim for an insightful keynote at the FAITH initiative. Her presentation explored the effects of generative AI on decision-making processes and the overall quality of decisions within team-AI collaborations.

Desiree shared remarkable insights from her experiment study. Human teams, often equipped with distributed knowledge, have the potential to make high-quality decisions. However, they frequently struggle due to decision-making asymmetries. As AI team members become integrated collaborators, understanding how they can mitigate these asymmetries is crucial.

The findings revealed that teams utilizing centralized AI knowledge achieved more accurate decisions by effectively reducing decision-making asymmetries. This success was attributed to factors such as trust in AI, beneficial AI information processing, and a well-balanced focus on collaboration with AI.
Conversely, teams with asymmetric AI knowledge only experienced moderate reductions in decision-making asymmetries. They encountered new challenges, including mistrust and non-beneficial AI information processing, which hindered their performance compared to human teams.

17-18 September 2025 | FAITH@Innovation Festival 2025

How are large language models (LLMs) changing our communication and research? What role does robotics play in enhancing human-AI collaboration? How does hybrid work with human-AI teams influence societal change? These questions and more were at the forefront of discussions during the inaugural Innovation Festival, held on September 17 and 18, 2025, at the University of Bielefeld and Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. The festival brought together researchers, companies, and decision-makers from the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region to explore cutting-edge technologies and collaboration opportunities.

FAITH contributed significantly to various events during the festival. Here are some of our highlights:

How Large Language Models Are Changing Our Communication and Research The session introduced attendees to the workings of LLMs such as ChatGPT and LLama. Prof. Phillipp Cimiano, speaker from the FAITH focus area, discussed in hands-on sessions how LLMs change our communication and research.
AI-Robotics and Human-Centered Automation Workshop The workshop initiated discussions about Robot Learning for over 20 participants with a talk from Prof. Klaus Neumann, followed by a live demonstration from the Collaborative Robotics Group, the Cognitronics Group, and the Cognitive Systems Engineering Group.
MachBar 2024 – Transformation Hub Approximately 75 participants from academia and industry gathered for the concluding event of the DenkBar series. The event aimed to strengthen the dialogue between research and practice. Dr. Olga Abramov presented for FAITH on speech dialogue systems and AI-supported assistance systems. Furthermore, FAITH speaker Prof. Günter W. Maier contributed with insights from Work and Organizational Psychology on how sustainable work environments can be realised in hybrid teams and Human-AI teamwork (HAT).

FAITH researchers were on hand to answer questions and facilitate discussions, making these sessions ideal for anyone interested in collaboration for innovation. FAITH looks forward to continuing the discussions and exploring new avenues for cooperation in the future!

03 July 2025 | FAITH@BI.research Conference

The focus area had a successful presence at the BI.research Conference. Our session featured a panel discussion followed by a dynamic poster session. Moderated by Anja Abendroth, Philipp Cimiano, Stefan Kopp, Günter Maier, and Sina Zarrieß, the panel explored the fundamental boundaries and possibilities of "Human-AI Teamwork."

The poster session showcased diverse range of perspectives and research being conducted within FAITH, including:

Human-AI Teaming in Medical Decision-Making
From Human-Human Interaction to Human-AI Interaction: A Variational Pragmatics & English Linguistics Perspective
Psychological Aspects of Hybrid Teams
From Algorithmic Management to Human-AI Teamwork
FAITH and the Use of Hybrid Teams in Business
From Hybrid Teamwork to Human-AI Teamwork
Contributions to Group Performance at Work: The Impact of a Partner's Altered Mental Capacity on Effort to Contribute

The engaging discussions and exchanges during the poster session underscored FAITH's mission to advancing the understanding of Human-AI collaboration and its implications for the future of team work. We look forward to continuing these vital conversations and furthering our research in this important field.

16 June 2025 | Reflecting on the FAITH Members Sessions

In our FAITH Members Sessions we bring our community together to explore Human-AI team configurations. The gathering provides a platform for members to share insights, discuss innovative concepts, and collaborate on developing conceptual papers.

In previous meetings, our members engaged in vibrant discussions, contributing diverse perspectives that enriched our interdisciplinary understanding of Human-AI interactions. The FAITH community meets every two weeks, and we look forward to welcoming you to our next session!

04 June 2025 | FAITH@IEEE CogSIMA

On June 4, 2025, Prof. Stefan Kopp participated in a panel at the IEEE CogSIMA 2025 conference, exploring the "Challenges, Perspectives, and Constraints in Human-AI Teaming Processes." The event delved into the complexities of integrating human expertise with advanced AI systems, addressing key challenges such as optimizing decision-making strategies and navigating ethical concerns related to transparency, accountability, and trust.

The panel evaluated real-world applications and technological limitations, emphasizing the critical need for future research in this rapidly evolving field. By fostering dialogue on bridging the gap between emerging AI technologies—such as LLM-based systems—and the principles of human-centered design in decision-making automation, the event aimed to advance understanding and collaboration in Human-AI teaming. Key takeaways and insights from this pivotal discussion will continue to influence the future of AI integration in various domains.

Find more information on the IEEE CogSIMA website.