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AI at MDU

Mälardalen University is on a journey that will change the future of education, innovation and society through the advancement of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI). Our vision is a holistic approach to AI where fundamental and applied research is complemented by exploring AI's transformative potential in education and its broader societal implications.

Our fundamental and applied AI research will continue to push knowledge boundaries unlocking new technology that will contribute positively to society and industry alike. Experimental research on AI for education will change how learning is achieved by enhancing teacher-student interactions and preparing a workforce to navigate a technology-driven future. Furthermore, our research will have a strong focus on societal impact. This includes ethical and socio-economic considerations to ensure that AI advancements are aligned with the principles of equity, inclusivity and sustainability.

Integral to our vision is the formation of strong partnerships with industry, academia and community stakeholders. Through collaboration, we aim to foster a multi-disciplinary AI ecosystem that encourages innovation, shares knowledge, and works collectively to solve pressing global challenges.​ At Mälardalen University, we envision a future where AI acts as a catalyst for educational excellence, societal progress, and sustainable development.

The implications of AI in society are profound and multifaceted, and we already know a lot about how traditional, conversational and generative AI affect individuals, organizations and societies. Amongst the benefits are augmented decision making, improved productivity, and enhanced distribution of knowledge.

However, AI also poses challenges in terms of work intensification, job displacement and the de-humanizing of society. These issues are further enhanced by the possible development of general AI. Research is needed to understand these implications comprehensively, with special attentiveness to questions of humanness, power, and ethics.

Investigations into how AI changes knowledge, working life, and cultural dynamics are crucial to understand its’ effects on, for example, education, employment, and welfare delivery. Fundamental to this research is an interdisciplinary approach, where scholars from different fields come together to jointly develop insights that are needed for navigating the complexities of AI in society.

Contact: anette.hallin@mdu.se

Fundamental AI research explores the core principles underlying artificial intelligence systems. Areas of focus include machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, generative models and computer vision.

Research is needed to develop more efficient algorithms capable of learning from limited data and adapting to new tasks. Understanding how to create AI systems that can generalize knowledge across domains remains a key challenge. Additionally, investigating methods for AI to acquire common sense reasoning and ethical decision-making skills is essential.

Interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science, cognitive science, mathematics, and other related fields is crucial to advance fundamental AI research.

Contact: masoud.daneshtalab@mdu.se

Applied AI at MDU focuses on harnessing artificial intelligence technology to create significant improvements across sectors such as healthcare, finance, transportation, robotics, and industrial automation. We aim to support innovation in these fields through advanced AI technologies specifically tailored to enhance system efficiency and effectiveness. Our research is committed to not only refining algorithms for critical applications such as medical diagnostics and autonomous systems but also to increasing the precision and safety of these technologies.

Collaboration is at the heart of our research. We partner with leading industries, AI researchers, domain experts, and end-users to develop innovative and practical solutions. These partnerships allow us to tackle complex challenges such as data bias and algorithm transparency, ensuring our AI systems are ethical and adaptable to real-world conditions.

Our projects also emphasize the practical impacts of AI, like optimizing energy use in industrial processes or improving response times in emergency medical services. Through these initiatives, we aim to demonstrate the tangible benefits of AI technologies, preparing them for broader adoption and positively impacting society.

Contact: alessandro.papadopoulos@mdu.se

AI in education holds promise for personalized learning, adaptive assessments, and intelligent tutoring systems. Research is needed to explore how AI can tailor educational experiences to individual needs, abilities, and learning styles, fostering engagement and academic success.

This includes developing AI algorithms to analyze student data, predict learning trajectories, and provide personalized recommendations. Additionally, research should investigate the impact of AI on teaching practices, curriculum design, and student outcomes. Ethical considerations such as privacy, equity, and algorithmic transparency also warrant investigation to ensure the responsible integration of AI in education.

Collaborative research efforts involving educators, technologists, and policymakers are essential for realizing the full potential of AI to transform education. To ensure success we will run experiments in different forms together with teachers and students.

Contact: christer.norstrom@mdu.se