Advancing Responsible AI through Education, Research and Societal Engagement : Perspectives from TU Wien and the Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism

Abstract

TU Wien has emerged as a hub for Digital Humanism, advancing a value- and human-rights-driven development of AI and other technologies, placing the importance of education, culture, and society at its core. Rooted in the Vienna Manifesto on Digital Humanism, TU Wien’s activities position human values, responsibility, and inclusion as guiding principles for the development and deployment of technology. In 2023, TU Wien has established a UNESCO Chair on Digital Humanism. The activities of the chair span a broad spectrum of educational and societal initiatives. These include interdisciplinary research programs, open-access publications, international lecture series, summer schools, and curriculum development. Design choices, research methods, and societal engagement are the key factors to bring Digital Humanism into research practice. Central to these efforts is the Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism, an inter-university PhD programme led by TU Wien in collaboration with the University of Vienna and WU Vienna. The PhD projects are fostering cross-disciplinary research between computer science, humanities, social sciences, law, architecture, and economics. By integrating ethical reflection, critical digital literacy, and participatory formats into education and research, TU Wien’s Digital Humanism activities function as a living ecosystem for responsible AI.