Speaker: Prof. Isabel Ramos

Abstract: As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an integral component of organizational processes, a deeper understanding of its role in "attention" emerges as a pivotal frontier for research. This talk introduces the concept of artificial attention, an innovative framework that bridges human cognitive attention with the attention mechanisms of AI systems. Through metaphorical reasoning, the parallels between human attention, such as selective focus, prioritization, and adaptability, and AI's capacity to process and prioritize vast datasets in complex, dynamic environments, will be explored.

By examining these analogies, the discussion will shed light on how AI attention mechanisms can complement, enhance, or even challenge traditional patterns of organizational attention. The session will focus on how these insights pave the way for enhancing human-AI sociotechnical systems, enabling organizations to better navigate the increasing complexity of decision-making and resource allocation.

Short Bio: Isabel Ramos is an Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Information Systems (DSI), School of Engineering of the University of Minho, Portugal. Isabel Ramos holds several leadership roles. She is the Head of the Department of Information Systems, President of the Portuguese Association for Information Systems and was Chair of the Technical Commission 8 of the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP) between 2019 and 2023. Isabel is vice president for membership services and chapters for the Association for Information Systems (AIS) since 2022.

Isabel Ramos’ research interests are broad yet focused on cutting-edge areas within the Information Systems field, including innovation, knowledge management, information systems research, and the socio-cultural and historical aspects of information technology use. Her scientific performance is notable for her willingness to explore new knowledge frontiers, resulting in numerous publications, including co-authored books, conference proceedings, book chapters, and articles in prestigious journals.