Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the main drivers of the digital transition impacting a large number of fields of activity. Its efficient use is therefore a challenge that raises the question of the user experience today.
The Interdisciplinary Innovation Platform (IIP) Artificial Intelligence and Acceptability (AI&A) therefore aims to address the issue of the acceptability of AI technologies from a multidisciplinary and user-centred perspective.
Winner of the AMI PII
Leaders :
- LS2N (Nantes University)
- Digital Design Lab (EDNA)
Partner :
- SIGMA Group
Objectives of the IA&A project
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of theories, tools and disciplines that allow the creation of algorithms or machines that simulate human intelligence. It therefore encompasses a wide range of intelligence levels, from simple automated computation to generalised reasoning abilities. A particular example of AI is machine learning, which is based on algorithms that give computers the ability to learn from databases and improve their performance. AI algorithms are relatively old (some are over 40 years old) and are now well known. Their implementation within companies is facilitated by the increase in computing power, as well as the decrease in its cost.
However, the use of AI algorithms now raises the question of their acceptability by users. Until now, studies on the conditions and/or quality of integration of these tools and the automation they allow have focused on specific aspects, such as the expected performance gains or the confidence granted by users. However, as these research studies were based on mono-disciplinary approaches, they did not focus on the effects of these automations on the user experience.
The Artificial Intelligence and Acceptability (AI&A) IIP aims to fill this gap by addressing the issue of acceptability of AI technologies from a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and user-centred perspective. It is supported by two complementary teams:
- The Image Perception Interaction (IPI) team of the Nantes Digital Sciences Laboratory (LS2N) of the University of Nantes, which brings its scientific expertise in the disciplines of AI, and quantitative evaluation of user experience.
- The Digital Design Lab of the Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique (EDNA), which brings its methodological expertise in the fields of UX design, innovation, and qualitative approaches to user experience.
Activities and perspectives of the IIP
The activities of the PII IA&A are, in the first instance, structured around work undertaken with the Digital Services Company (ESN) SIGMA, with a CIFRE thesis entitled “Towards an efficient human-machine interaction in a professional context: design and evaluation methods for solutions using artificial intelligence”. This thesis, which aims to emphasise the consideration of users in the development of this type of solution, is a first step in collaboration between local professional and academic actors.
Other activities will be carried out within the framework of the IIP, and with different partners, in order to study how to foster the acceptability of AI from its conception. In particular, innovative testing methodologies and associated pilot experiments will be set up in various fields. The IIP favours the creation and implementation of experiments in connection with the Experience Lab (XP-Lab) and the Manufacturing Lab (M-Lab) in Hall 6 West. As AI techniques evolve and potential fields of use are identified, new issues of acceptability for human-machine cooperation will be raised for modern AI, and in particular for machine learning.
IIP action of the WCI programme in Pays de la Loire
As part of its Innovation component, the Ouest Industrie Créatives programme has launched the Interdisciplinary Innovation Platforms (IIP), which aim to respond to the concrete challenges of societal, environmental, digital or industrial transitions, through the prism of user experience and innovation in use.
An IIP federates, over a minimum period of 36 months, multidisciplinary thematic Research-Innovation consortia associating researchers and socio-economic players from the Pays de la Loire. It must implement a research and innovation programme, combining academic and industrial interests, which will generate interdisciplinary scientific knowledge on the design and evaluation of the human experience, and thus contribute to providing a concrete response to one or more of the transition challenges faced by stakeholders in the region.
Contacts
Matthieu Perreira Da Silva – LS2N, Univ Nantes
Frédérique Krupa – Digital Design Lab, EDNA
Julien Laflaquière – WCI Innovation Officer
