IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v84y2026ics0160791x25003112.html

Human-centered AI: advancing ethical, transparent, and context-aware systems for sustainable development

Author

Listed:
  • Nizamani, Mir Muhammad
  • Zhang, Hai-Li
  • Lai, Zhongping

Abstract

Human-Centered AI (HCAI) represents a transformative approach to artificial intelligence development, focusing on aligning AI systems with human values, societal needs, and ethical standards. This paper explores the key frameworks, challenges, and opportunities associated with HCAI, emphasizing its application across diverse domains such as healthcare, urban planning, agriculture, and education. HCAI-driven innovations, including Human-Centered Generative AI, Human-AI Co-Creation, and Explainable AI, are enhancing creativity, trust, and decision-making in both individual and collaborative contexts. The paper identifies critical challenges, including technical limitations, ethical concerns, human-AI interaction issues, and data privacy concerns, which must be addressed to ensure effective and ethical AI deployment. It also highlights the role of interdisciplinary research and cross-sector collaboration in overcoming these challenges and advancing HCAI applications. Looking ahead, the integration of AI with big data, longitudinal studies, and real-time evaluations will play a pivotal role in refining AI systems and ensuring their long-term success. By adopting a socio-technical approach and fostering public participation in AI design, HCAI can promote more sustainable, equitable, and human-centric technological development. Ultimately, the paper argues that HCAI has the potential to drive innovation in ways that enhance human capabilities, build trust, and contribute positively to societal well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Nizamani, Mir Muhammad & Zhang, Hai-Li & Lai, Zhongping, 2026. "Human-centered AI: advancing ethical, transparent, and context-aware systems for sustainable development," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:84:y:2026:i:c:s0160791x25003112
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103121
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X25003112
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103121?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Boyang Chen & Zongxiao Wu & Ruoran Zhao, 2023. "From fiction to fact: the growing role of generative AI in business and finance," Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 471-496, October.
    2. Castella, Jean-Christophe & Verburg, Peter H., 2007. "Combination of process-oriented and pattern-oriented models of land-use change in a mountain area of Vietnam," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 202(3), pages 410-420.
    3. Jurgen Willems & Moritz J. Schmid & Dieter Vanderelst & Dominik Vogel & Falk Ebinger, 2023. "AI-driven public services and the privacy paradox: do citizens really care about their privacy?," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(11), pages 2116-2134, November.
    4. Bircan, Tuba & Özbilgin, Mustafa F., 2025. "Unmasking inequalities of the code: Disentangling the nexus of AI and inequality," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    5. Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Hughes, Laurie & Ismagilova, Elvira & Aarts, Gert & Coombs, Crispin & Crick, Tom & Duan, Yanqing & Dwivedi, Rohita & Edwards, John & Eirug, Aled & Galanos, Vassilis & Ilavarasan, , 2021. "Artificial Intelligence (AI): Multidisciplinary perspectives on emerging challenges, opportunities, and agenda for research, practice and policy," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    6. McIntyre, Kathleen B. & Schultz, Courtney A., 2020. "Facilitating collaboration in forest management: Assessing the benefits of collaborative policy innovations," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    7. Boeing, Geoff, 2021. "Spatial information and the legibility of urban form: Big data in urban morphology," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    8. Alison Heppenstall & Andrew Evans & Mark Birkin, 2006. "Using Hybrid Agent-Based Systems to Model Spatially-Influenced Retail Markets," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 9(3), pages 1-2.
    9. Xianyuan Zhan & Satish Ukkusuri & Feng Zhu, 2014. "Inferring Urban Land Use Using Large-Scale Social Media Check-in Data," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 647-667, December.
    10. Tain, Laurence, 2003. "Health inequality and users' risk-taking: a longitudinal analysis in a French reproductive technology centre," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(11), pages 2115-2125, December.
    11. Ajay Bandi & Pydi Venkata Satya Ramesh Adapa & Yudu Eswar Vinay Pratap Kumar Kuchi, 2023. "The Power of Generative AI: A Review of Requirements, Models, Input–Output Formats, Evaluation Metrics, and Challenges," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-60, July.
    12. Anton Korinek, 2023. "Generative AI for Economic Research: Use Cases and Implications for Economists," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 61(4), pages 1281-1317, December.
    13. Tan Yigitcanlar & Rashid Mehmood & Juan M. Corchado, 2021. "Green Artificial Intelligence: Towards an Efficient, Sustainable and Equitable Technology for Smart Cities and Futures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-14, August.
    14. Feijóo, Claudio & Kwon, Youngsun & Bauer, Johannes M. & Bohlin, Erik & Howell, Bronwyn & Jain, Rekha & Potgieter, Petrus & Vu, Khuong & Whalley, Jason & Xia, Jun, 2020. "Harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to increase wellbeing for all: The case for a new technology diplomacy," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(6).
    15. Philippe Lorenz & Karine Perset & Jamie Berryhill, 2023. "Initial policy considerations for generative artificial intelligence," OECD Artificial Intelligence Papers 1, OECD Publishing.
    16. Caroline Paunov & Sandra Planes-Satorra & Greta Ravelli, 2019. "Review of national policy initiatives in support of digital and AI-driven innovation," OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers 79, OECD Publishing.
    17. Fontana, Magda & Terna, Pietro, 2015. "From Agent-based models to network analysis (and return): the policy-making perspective," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 201507, University of Turin.
    18. Jenny Yang & Nguyen Thanh Dung & Pham Ngoc Thach & Nguyen Thanh Phong & Vu Dinh Phu & Khiem Dong Phu & Lam Minh Yen & Doan Bui Xuan Thy & Andrew A. S. Soltan & Louise Thwaites & David A. Clifton, 2024. "Generalizability assessment of AI models across hospitals in a low-middle and high income country," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    19. David Mhlanga, 2022. "Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence: The Superlative Approach to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-22, June.
    20. Herbert Dawid & Michael Neugart, 2011. "Agent-based Models for Economic Policy Design," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 37(1), pages 44-50.
    21. Sabrina Scherer & Maria Wimmer & Ulf Lotzmann & Scott Moss & Daniele Pinotti, 2015. "Evidence Based and Conceptual Model Driven Approach for Agent-Based Policy Modelling," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 18(3), pages 1-14.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Modgil, Sachin & Gupta, Shivam & Kar, Arpan Kumar & Tuunanen, Tuure, 2025. "How could Generative AI support and add value to non-technology companies – A qualitative study," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    2. Moinak Maiti & Parthajit Kayal & Aleksandra Vujko, 2025. "A study on ethical implications of artificial intelligence adoption in business: challenges and best practices," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Shore, Adam & Tiwari, Manisha & Tandon, Priyanka & Foropon, Cyril, 2024. "Building entrepreneurial resilience during crisis using generative AI: An empirical study on SMEs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    4. Vecchietti, Giuseppe & Liyanaarachchi, Gajendra & Viglia, Giampaolo, 2025. "Managing deepfakes with artificial intelligence: Introducing the business privacy calculus," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    5. Dong, Mengming Michael & Stratopoulos, Theophanis C. & Wang, Victor Xiaoqi, 2024. "A scoping review of ChatGPT research in accounting and finance," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    6. Sedar Olmez & Jason Thompson & Ellie Marfleet & Keiran Suchak & Alison Heppenstall & Ed Manley & Annabel Whipp & Rajith Vidanaarachchi, 2022. "An Agent-Based Model of Heterogeneous Driver Behaviour and Its Impact on Energy Consumption and Costs in Urban Space," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, May.
    7. Shuyu Si & Yeduozi Yao & Jing Wu, 2025. "Artificial Intelligence in Urban Planning: A Bibliometric Analysis and Hotspot Prediction," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-39, October.
    8. Mousavi, Rashin & Mousavi, Arash & Mousavi, Yashar & Tavasoli, Mahsa & Arab, Aliasghar & Kucukdemiral, Ibrahim Beklan & Alfi, Alireza & Fekih, Afef, 2025. "Revolutionizing solar energy resources: The central role of generative AI in elevating system sustainability and efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 382(C).
    9. Jing Liu & Mengbo Wang & Xiaoling Kang & Xia Zhang & Xing Chen, 2022. "Seizing the opportunity window of artificial intelligence in China: Towards an innovation policy mix framework for emerging technologies from an evolution perspective," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(3), pages 397-414, May.
    10. Alessio Emanuele Biondo & Flavia Coda Moscarola & Roberto Zanola, 2025. "Better Late than Never: Promoting Cultural Consumption Among the Elderly," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 11(1), pages 313-340, March.
    11. Luca Riccetti & Alberto Russo & Mauro Gallegati, 2015. "An agent based decentralized matching macroeconomic model," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 10(2), pages 305-332, October.
    12. Ferraro, Diego O. & Ghersa, Felipe & Castro, Rodrigo, 2024. "Predicting land use and environmental dynamics in Argentina's Pampas region: An agent-based modeling approach across varied price and climatic scenarios," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 498(C).
    13. Kashyap, Abhishek & Shukla, Om Ji & Kumar, Rupesh & Alam, Md Mahmudul & Oberoi, Sarbjit Singh, 2025. "Online retailing and the metaverse: Addressing stakeholder impediments in e-commerce," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    14. Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Rodrigues da Silva, Jassen & Cannarozzo Tinoco, Maria Auxiliadora & Saccani, Nicola & Frank, Alejandro G., 2025. "Artificial Intelligence capabilities in Digital Servitization: Identifying digital opportunities for different service types," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    15. Juan Manuel Larrosa, 2016. "Agentes computacionales y análisis económico," Revista de Economía Institucional, Universidad Externado de Colombia - Facultad de Economía, vol. 18(34), pages 87-113, January-J.
    16. Borba, Rafael Lucas & de Paula Ferreira, Iuri Emmanuel & Bertucci Ramos, Paulo Henrique, 2024. "Addressing discriminatory bias in artificial intelligence systems operated by companies: An analysis of end-user perspectives," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    17. Iñaki Aldasoro & Ajit Desai, 2025. "Money Talks: AI Agents for Cash Management in Payment Systems," Staff Working Papers 25-35, Bank of Canada.
    18. Evangelos Katsamakas & Oleg V. Pavlov & Ryan Saklad, 2024. "Artificial intelligence and the transformation of higher education institutions," Papers 2402.08143, arXiv.org.
    19. Woszczyna Karolina & Mania Karolina, 2023. "The European map of artificial intelligence development policies: a comparative analysis," International Journal of Contemporary Management, Sciendo, vol. 59(3), pages 78-87, September.
    20. Vincenzo Varriale & Antonello Cammarano & Francesca Michelino & Mauro Caputo, 2025. "Critical analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence integration with cutting-edge technologies for production systems," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 61-93, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:84:y:2026:i:c:s0160791x25003112. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.