New hessian.AI professorship for artificial intelligence at Goethe University: Prof. Kevin Bauer researches human-machine interaction in the Department of Information Systems
Goethe University is further expanding its research and teaching on artificial intelligence: Kevin Bauer, junior professor at the University of Mannheim until the end of 2024, has taken up a professorship for “Game-Theoretic and Casual AI” at Goethe University on January 1, 2025. The professorship, which is based in the Department of Information Systems, is funded by the cross-university Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence, hessian.AI.
Research Focus: Human-AI Interaction and Causal AI Systems
Kevin Bauer, born in 1991, is no stranger to Goethe University, where he studied economics and earned degrees in quantitative economics and business informatics before completing his doctorate with a thesis in the field of applied microeconomics. After his PhD, he first gained industry experience and worked as an AI Specialist at the Frankfurt startup hub TechQuartier. He then took up a postdoctoral position at the Leibniz Institute SAFE, where he worked on the implications of artificial intelligence in the financial sector. Two years ago, he was appointed junior professor for e-business and e-government at the University of Mannheim. His research focuses on the interaction between humans and artificial intelligence as well as the application of causal AI systems in practice. At the Department of Economics at Goethe University, he will combine cutting-edge research in the field of AI with economic research.
Bridging Humans and Machines
“The best results often come from the combination of humans and machines. To realize this potential, we need to understand the technical properties of AI as well as the psychological and organizational factors that determine the efficiency and quality of collaboration between humans and machines – this is the focus of my research,” explains Bauer. It is important to him that users understand how AI works and can use its possibilities responsibly. So far, he has observed a great lack of knowledge about the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence: on the one hand, there are exaggerated expectations, and on the other, an uncritical and sometimes thoughtless approach. For example, many people do not realize that modern AI systems ultimately only calculate statistical probabilities. In particular, answers from language models such as chat GPT need to be critically scrutinized, explains Bauer: “These systems do not provide any real insights or truths, but generate texts that only appear conclusive on the basis of probabilities. This makes it all the more important to understand their limitations.” He sees a great need for educational work here – for example in schools and companies. In addition to researching the scientific basis for optimal human-machine interaction, which should also promote its practical application in organizations, Bauer would also like to use the professorship to raise awareness.
Award-Winning Researcher with Global Experience
Kevin Bauer, who can look back on research stays in Michigan, Hong Kong, Queensland and Hawaii, has already received numerous awards for his research. Most recently, in December 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Senior Scholar Best Publication Award together with Prof. Oliver Hinz and Dr. Moritz von Zahn (both Goethe University) for the article “Expl(AI)ned: The Impact of Explainable Artificial Intelligence on Users’ Information Processing”. The Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence, hessian.AI, is jointly supported by 13 Hessian universities and currently brings together more than 60 academic members under its umbrella.
An Expert in both AI Research and Application
“The use of artificial intelligence methods is one of the key drivers of the current changes in our society and economy. The further development and application of the methods is also central to the future viability of science, the findings of which must also be consistently transferred to society and the economy. With Mr. Bauer, we are gaining an expert in both fields, both in research with and on methods of artificial intelligence and in the application of AI. We are delighted that he will use his expertise to strengthen Goethe University and hessian.AI in research, teaching and the transfer of knowledge into application,” says Prof. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University.
“In Kevin Bauer, we have been able to recruit one of the most promising young scientists in this field. With his training as a behavioral economist and his expertise in the field of machine learning, he occupies an exceptional position in the German-speaking world. Research in the field of artificial intelligence is crucial for the economy, as it promotes innovation, increases efficiency and enables companies to make data-driven decisions,” says Prof. Oliver Hinz, who teaches business administration, in particular business informatics and information management, at Goethe University and is one of the founding members of hessian.AI.
hessian.AI further strengthens responsible research and integration of AI
The appointment of Kevin Bauer strengthens hessian.AI in a key future field: the responsible research and integration of AI into our everyday lives. His research on human-machine interaction is crucial to our vision of sustainably improving people’s living conditions through artificial intelligence,” says Prof. Mira Mezini, Co-Director of hessian.AI. “His holistic approach is particularly valuable: he not only develops the technical foundations for trustworthy AI systems, but also researches how people and organizations can use these technologies in a meaningful way. This combination of technical innovation and social responsibility is the key to using AI for the benefit of all and establishing Hesse as a pioneer for human-centered AI development,” emphasizes Prof. Kristian Kersting, also Co-Director of hessian.Ai.
Third hessian.AI-professorship at Goethe University
Kevin Bauer’s professorship is the third of the new professorships to be established at Goethe University Frankfurt. Following the appointment of Prof. Gemma Roig, who researches artificial intelligence and its relationship to human intelligence, to the first hessian.AI professorship, the appointment of Prof. Marcel Schulz was the second hessian.AI professorship at Goethe University. The founding members of hessian.AI at Goethe University are Visvanathan Ramesh, Professor of Software Engineering, Oliver Hinz, Professor of Information Systems and Information Management, and Andreas Hackethal, Professor of Finance.
Advancing AI Research and Promoting Transfer in Industry and Society
hessian.AI focuses on basic research with practical relevance in order to find answers to the important challenges of our time and transfers research and knowledge to industry and society. In this way, Hesse will remain internationally competitive in the core technologies of artificial intelligence in the future. The state of Hesse has funded the establishment and operation of hessian.AI for an initial five-year period with a total of 38 million euros. In addition, there is a good 10 million euros for the AI innovation lab and around 3.7 million euros from the Federal Ministry of Economics to fund a start-up and transfer project. In 2022, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research selected hessian.AI to become one of four AI service centers nationwide, which is associated with a further 17 million euros in funding.
Photo: Kevin Bauer