research focus Humans and Generative Artificial Intelligence: Trust in Co-Creation
The research focus “Humans and Generative Artificial Intelligence: Trust in Co-Creation” is dedicated to the question of the conditions under which people trust or could trust in the interaction with generative AI and the resulting products – and when not.
Research focus: Generative AI
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) refers to technical systems that can autonomously create texts and multimedia content in response to specific inputs. Generative AI has the potential to transform our lives, from art and software engineering to work processes, job profiles, medicine, education and science. At the same time, generative AI presents us with a variety of challenges, for example with regard to the quality or truthfulness of the products created.
When generative AI is used as an assistance system, humans and technology have three potential points of contact: They can produce something together and create images and texts, for example. They can interact with AI and create value through the interaction itself, e.g. in therapy or teaching. When people consume or use products created by AI, the focus is on reception. In all cases, we see the concept of trust as essential for the success of these endeavours.
Announcements
A Paper by Sonja Niemann and Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid on Criteria of Code Quality in Education at the ITHET Conference (20–22 May 2026)
The paper “Beyond Correctness: Aligning LLM Tutor Rubrics with Real-World Evaluation Criteria Derived from Expert Interviews” by Sonja Niemann and Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid examines relevant criteria of code quality in computer science education, developed on the basis of expert interviews. These criteria will be incorporated into prompts and rubrics for a Large Language Model–based intelligent tutoring system designed to support both students and instructors in introductory computer science courses. The paper will be presented by Sonja Niemann at the ITHET Conference and subsequently published in the conference proceedings.
Prof. Dr. Hannah Schmid-Petri in the Webinar of the Neuburger Gesprächskreis on AI, Journalism, and Disinformation (14 April 2026)
In a webinar hosted by the Neuburger Gesprächskreis—an entrepreneurs’ forum operating at the intersection of academia and practice—Prof. Dr. Hannah Schmid-Petri delivered her talk “Journalism Between New Challenges, AI, and Fake News” on 14 April. The event addressed current developments in the media sector, ranging from the growing relevance of artificial intelligence and the handling of disinformation to the question of how journalistic quality can be maintained in an increasingly digital information landscape. During the webinar, Professor Schmid-Petri also presented her current research project at the bidt, which examines public perceptions of the use of generative AI in journalism. Further information.
Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid and Sonja Niemann at the Dresden Symposium “The Answering Machine” (25-26 March 2026)
Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid will deliver a keynote at the Dresden Symposium “The Answering Machine”, focusing on the requirements for human–AI alignment in joint decision‑making and problem‑solving processes. Her talk will highlight approaches to more human‑centered explainability as well as methods designed to strengthen human agency and oversight in collaborative AI systems.
At the interactive AI Playground, Sonja Niemann will present a prototype of a tutoring system with an LLM interface that supports students in learning programming. The prototype is being developed within the joint project pAIrProg, currently with a focus on recursion and code quality. Further information.
Latest news
Contact
Prof. Dr. Hannah Schmid-Petri
Member of bidt's Board of Directors | Chair of Science Communication, University of Passau
Dr. Maria Staudte
Research Coordinator “Generative AI” | Head of Early Career Support Programmes, bidt
Internal Research Projects
Human-AI co-creation of code with different prior knowledge
The interdisciplinary project “Human-AI co-creation of code with different prior knowledge: Effects on performance and trust” explores the co-creation process of humans and AI in the context of creating programme code. The focus is on the design of trustworthy interfaces for the use of co-generators in programming training and professional software development.
Project team
Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid
Member of bidt's Board of Directors and the Executive Commitee | Member of the Bavarian AI Council | Head of Cognitive Systems Group, University of Bamberg
AI in Journalism: The Impact of Generative AI on Objectivity and Dialogic Openness in Climate Debates
The project “AI in Journalism: The Impact of Generative AI on Objectivity and Dialogic Openness in Climate Debates” is investigating the extent to which AI in the field of climate protection can help to increase the willingness to accept messages and promote factual debate with counter-arguments.
project team
Prof. Dr. Hannah Schmid-Petri
Member of bidt's Board of Directors | Chair of Science Communication, University of Passau
Legal uncertainty through generative AI? Reform considerations for the promotion of system trust at universities
In addition to the legal analysis of higher education and examination law, the project “Legal uncertainty through generative AI? Reform considerations for the promotion of system trust at universities” also addresses the question of how universities could or should react and adapt in practice.
project team
Prof. Dr. Dirk Heckmann
Member of bidt's Board of Directors | Chair of Law and Security in Digital Transformation, Technical University of Munich
