Project description
Human-machine interdependence in social systems
The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics, has led to an increasing interdependence between humans and intelligent machines, from algorithms to bots and robots. This has given rise to a largely unexplored field within social studies and systems research, as new networks, bonds, and communities emerge. The ERC-funded HUMANET project seeks to expand empirical knowledge of both existing and potential future human-machine social systems. By investigating human-machine interactions, the project will analyse their composition, structure, and constraints, as well as their impact on communities and social dynamics.
Objective
Bridging sociology, social psychology, human-computer interaction, and web science, HUMANET combines experimental and computational research methods to study a pressing new social challenge: the ever-increasing interdependence between humans and autonomous machines such as robots, bots, and algorithms.
Starting from the idea that humans and machines form a complex adaptive social system, HUMANET investigates how human-machine, machine-machine, and human-human interactions influence and affect each other and how they add up to different collective outcomes. Conceptually, we distinguish between three levels of analysis: interactions, networks, and communities, and study direct, indirect, and strategic influence, network composition and structure, and techno-organizational constraints and sociocultural context. In terms of methodology, we combine controlled virtual lab experiments, agent-based models, digital-trace data, online field interventions, and heterogeneity and case comparison to conduct and integrate comprehensive analyses at the three levels. Empirically, we focus on the problem of social influence and contagion and provide causal and observational evidence from a range of online human-bot communities, including an online collaboration community, a discussion site, and a crowdfunding platform.
HUMANET aims to expand our empirical knowledge of existing human-machine social systems, generate testable theories about human-machine interactions and networks, advance methods for modelling and conducting experiments with artificial agents, and bring public attention to the increasing algorithmization of our daily lives. Its ultimate goal is to build the foundations of a new cumulative empirical sociology of humans and machines. A better understanding of human-machine social systems is becoming crucial for reducing misinformation, preventing financial crashes, improving road safety, adapting to labor market disruptions, and more.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC2A 2AE London
United Kingdom
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