Prof. Kevin Bauer researches human-machine interaction / Funding provided by the cross-university center “hessian.AI”
Goethe University Frankfurt is further expanding its research and teaching on artificial intelligence: On January 1, 2025, Kevin Bauer, who served as junior professor at the University of Mannheim until the end of 2024, took up a professorship for “Game-Theoretic and Causal AI”. Based at the Faculty of Economics and Business’ Department of Information Systems, the professorship is funded by the cross-university Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence hessian.AI.
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. Following his PhD, he first gained industry experience and worked as an AI specialist at Frankfurt startup hub TechQuartier. Bauer then took up a postdoctoral position at the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE, where he researched the implications of AI on the financial sector. Two years ago, he was appointed junior professor for e-business and e-government at Mannheim University. His research focuses on the interaction between humans and artificial intelligence as well as the practical application of causal AI systems. At Goethe University’s Faculty of Economics and Business, he will combine cutting-edge research in the field of AI with economic research.
“The best results often emerge from the combination of man and machine. To realize this potential, we need to understand both the technical characteristics of AI as well as the psychological and organizational factors that determine the efficiency and quality of the collaboration between humans and machines. That is exactly where the focus of my research lies,” Bauer explains. It is important to him that users understand how AI works and can utilize the possibilities it opens up responsibly. What he has observed so far, he says, is a great lack of knowledge about AI’s capabilities and limits: While on the one hand, many have exaggerated expectations, on the other, the approach to the technology is uncritical and sometimes even thoughtless. As such, he points out, many people do not realize that modern AI systems ultimately only calculate statistical probabilities. Answers obtained from language models such as ChatGPT in particular need to be critically scrutinized, Bauer explains: “These systems do not provide any real insights or truths, but instead generate texts that only appear conclusive on the basis of probabilities. That is why it is so important to understand their limitations.” This is where he sees a particularly great need for educational work – including 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 for the topic.
Kevin Bauer, who already completed research stays in Michigan, Hong Kong, Queensland and Hawaii, has received numerous awards for his research. Most recently, in December 2024, he received the prestigious Senior Scholar Best Publication Award, together with Prof. Oliver Hinz and Dr. Moritz von Zahn (both Goethe University Frankfurt), for their 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 comprises more than 60 academic members.
“One of the key drivers of the current changes in our society and economy is the application of artificial intelligence methods. Beyond that, the further development and use of these methods are central to the future viability of science, whose research findings also must be systematically transferred to society and the economy. With Mr. Bauer, we are gaining an expert in two fields – in research with and on methods of artificial intelligence as well as in the application of AI. We are delighted that he will use his expertise to strengthen both Goethe University Frankfurt and hessian.AI in the fields of research, teaching as well as the transfer of knowledge into application,” says Goethe University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff.
“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 holds an exceptional position in the German-speaking world. Research into artificial intelligence is crucial for the economy, as it promotes innovation, increases efficiency and allows companies to make data-driven decisions,” says Prof. Oliver Hinz, who teaches business administration, with a focus on business informatics and information management, at Goethe University Frankfurt and is also one of the founding members of hessian.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 using artificial intelligence to improve people’s living conditions in the long term,” says Prof. Mira Mezini, deputy director of hessian.AI. “His holistic approach is particularly valuable: in addition to developing the technical foundations for trustworthy AI systems, he also researches how people and organizations can use these technologies in a meaningful way. This combination of technical innovation and social responsibility is key to using AI for the benefit of all and establishing Hessen as a pioneer for human-centered AI development,” emphasizes fellow hessian.AI deputy director Prof. Kristian Kersting.
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, Prof. Marcel Schulz took on Goethe University’s second hessian.AI professorship. The founding members of hessian.AI at Goethe University Frankfurt are Visvanathan Ramesh, Professor of Software Engineering, Oliver Hinz, Professor of Information Systems and Information Management, and Andreas Hackethal, Professor of Finance.
The Center focuses on basic research with a practical relevance, with a view towards finding answers to the important challenges of our time, and at the same time transfers research and knowledge to business and society – thereby helping to ensure that Hessen will remain internationally competitive in the core technologies of artificial intelligence in the future. The state of Hesse has made available €38 million in funding over an initial five-year period to establish and operate hessian.AI. Beyond that, the Center will receive another approx. €10 million for its AI innovation lab and around €3.7 million from the Federal Ministry of Economics to support 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 comes with a further €17 million in funding.
Further information
Prof. Dr. Kevin Bauer
Institute of Business Informatics
Goethe University Frankfurt
E-Mail: bauer@wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de
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