Guest lecture - AI? The Future of Human-AI Relationships

Artificial Intelligence has rapidly evolved from a mere tool into a pervasive presence in our daily lives, one that increasingly inspires emotional connections, trust, and even dependency. As these technologies become more human-like in behavior and appearance, they begin to challenge our traditional notions of what it means to relate, to decide, and to be in control. Dr. Marisa Tschopp, a psychologist in the field of Human-AI Interaction, explores the psychological and societal implications of this shift. Her work investigates how intelligent systems shape our habits, influence our relationships. As we find ourselves in conversation with chatbots, taking advice from algorithms, or even forming bonds with synthetic voices and avatars, the key question becomes not just what AI can do, but how we as humans want to live with it. How can we foster a healthy, reflective, and ethical relationship with intelligent machines? How do we stay mindful in an increasingly automated world? By bringing psychological insight into the debate, Dr. Tschopp advocates for a conscious and informed approach to designing and interacting with AI,. that places human values, mental well-being, and critical reflection at its core.

Dr. Marisa Tschopp is a researcher at scip AG, a cybersecurity company based in Zurich, Senior Researcher at Human-IST Institute at University of Fribourg, and a long-time supporter of Women in AI NPO. She explores AI from a psychological perspective, addressing a range of questions related to psychological phenomena with a particular interest in ethical implications. Her research focuses on human-AI relationships, trust in AI, agency, behavioral performance assessment of conversational systems (A-IQ), and gender issues in AI. As an organizational psychologist, Marisa has experience in social and educational institutions and has studied and taught at various universities in Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. She has published media articles, book chapters, and scientific papers, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and events (including TEDx) worldwide. Marisa holds a Master’s degree in Psychology for Excellence in Business and Education from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Psychology with a focus on market and consumer psychology. Her PhD (Dr. rer. nat) from the University of Tübingen, examined the perceived relationships between humans and conversational AI and the influence of human-AI relationships on behavior.