It takes two to tango: a synergistic approach to human-machine decision making

Project Information

TANGO

Grant agreement ID: 101120763

DOI

10.3030/101120763

EC signature date 30 June 2023

Start date 1 October 2023

End date 30 September 2027

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 7 008 798,75

EU contribution

€ 7 008 798,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TANGO (It takes two to tango: a synergistic approach to human-machine decision making)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The TANGO project operates at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and decision-making, addressing the increasing complexity of human-AI collaboration. TANGO aims to create a human-centric AI framework capable of supporting decision-making in critical real-world applications, ranging from healthcare to finance and policy. At its core, TANGO focuses on developing hybrid decision-making systems, blending human and machine intelligence for more accurate and transparent outcomes.

The project responds to the growing societal need for explainable, ethical, and trustworthy AI systems. The political context, such as the implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, emphasizes fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems, directly shaping TANGO's research objectives. Moreover, the strategic relevance of TANGO is underscored by its alignment with the EU’s push for human-centric AI leadership, as outlined in various Horizon Europe programs.


The TANGO project is structured around four key strategic objectives:

1) Cognitive Foundations for Hybrid Decision Making – This involves developing theories and models that explain how humans and machines can achieve mutual understanding. TANGO proposes an interactive approach to AI transparency, whereby AI systems can elucidate and defend their decisions based on ongoing human interaction, instead of requiring full transparency into internal processes.

2) Development of Computational Paradigms and Algorithms for Human-Machine Learning and Decision Making – TANGO is advancing machine learning methods that enable synergistic human-machine learning. This includes neuro-symbolic models and interactive learning systems that can incorporate human corrections and provide personalized, robust decision support.

3) Hybrid Decision Support Systems for Real-World Applications – The project aims to develop a software ecosystem to instantiate machine learning models capable of supporting a variety of use cases, from assisting surgical teams in complex procedures to providing transparent, ethical decision-making support in financial lending.

4) Strengthening European Leadership in Human-Centric AI – By fostering collaboration between various research institutes and industries, TANGO is creating a network of stakeholders committed to the ethical use of AI, with a focus on public trust, fairness, and regulatory compliance.

TANGO's long-term impact is expected to be significant across multiple sectors, including healthcare, finance, and public policy. The project is on track to deliver tools and methodologies that empower human decision-makers while ensuring fairness and transparency in AI-assisted decisions. By promoting ethical AI and aligning with European regulatory frameworks, TANGO contributes to maintaining Europe’s leadership in human-centric AI innovation.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Over the first 18 months, the TANGO project has made substantial progress across its work packages, laying the foundation for future development and validation of hybrid decision-making systems. The project focused on three key areas: the theoretical development of human-machine collaboration, the creation of computational paradigms, and the application of these technologies in real-world trial cases.

1) Development of Cognitive Foundations (WP1): The project explored cognitive mechanisms underpinning hybrid decision-making, focusing on developing theories of mutual understanding between humans and AI systems. The initial theory was formalized in a draft paper, which emphasizes interactive explainability as a core feature of hybrid systems. Additionally, early empirical studies suggest that human partners tend to trust AI decisions more when they are perceived as deliberate, setting the stage for future work in refining these trust mechanisms.

2) Creation of Computational Paradigms (WP2, WP3): TANGO leveraged insights from the cognitive findings in WP1 to revise cognition-aware explainability approaches for interactive machine learning (D2.1) and hybrid decision making (D3.1). These insights were instrumental in developing the first version of computational paradigms and algorithms for synergistic machine learning (D2.2) and hybrid decision making (D3.2). In particular, neuro-symbolic and human-in-the-loop solutions were developed to allow AI models to combine reliability and capacity to evolve through interaction with users. Additionally, the project investigated privacy-preserving AI frameworks and fairness in decision-making, providing critical mechanisms for transparent AI decision support.

3) System Design and Development (WP4): A major technical achievement was the definition of the architecture of the TANGO platform (Deliverable D4.1). This architecture defines the system’s modularity, scalability, and security features, enabling seamless integration of AI models. These technical foundations are pivotal for the deployment of hybrid decision-making tools across different domains, such as healthcare and policy.

4) Real-World Applications and Pilot Studies (WP5): TANGO’s real-world applications focus on four trial cases in healthcare, finance, and public policy. Key progress was made in preparing methodologies and data collection for these trials. Deliverable D5.1 the application guidelines for the Trial Handbooks, is the coordination tool guaranteeing coherence and alignment among case studies. The design of individual case studies is being done according to these guidelines.

5) Coordination and Risk Management (WP7): Effective project management, quality assurance, and risk mitigation strategies were implemented throughout the first year. The project team organized regular executive meetings, developed internal procedures, and successfully submitted all required deliverables. Notable deliverables include the Project Handbook (D7.1) and the First (D7.2) and Second (D7.3) versions of Data Management Plan, crucial for maintaining high standards of project execution.

These achievements underscore TANGO’s progress toward its objectives of developing human-centric AI systems that can support decision-makers in various sectors. The foundational work performed in the first 18 months provides a robust platform for subsequent project phases and the eventual deployment of hybrid decision-making systems.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The list of Key Exploitable Results is reported below:

- KER 1 Methods and Algorithms human-machine mutual understanding and hybrid decision making
- KER 2 TANGO Software Ecosystem
- KER 3 TANGO Personal Assistant for health and wellbeing
- KER 4 TANGO AI system for medical decision making
- KER 5 TANGO AI system for credit lending and financial applications
- KER 6 TANGO AI system for social policy making

Further details will be provided in the later stages of the project.

The TANGO methodology