Artificial intelligence has become a central object of inquiry across the cognitive sciences, raising scientific, societal, and philosophical questions of unprecedented scope. Far from being a purely technical field, AI both draws from and reshapes our understanding of cognition, perception, learning, decision making, and social interaction.
The Cognitive AI initiative brings together research that approaches AI from multiple, complementary perspectives. Some work focuses on the design and improvement of artificial systems themselves, building on insights from neuroscience and cognitive science. Other research uses AI as a scientific instrument, treating computational models as tools to probe the mechanisms of human cognition and brain function. As AI systems increasingly interact with humans and are deployed in real-world contexts, additional efforts examine human–AI interaction, societal impact, and applications in education and health. Finally, the rise of AI raises foundational philosophical and ethical questions about meaning, agency, responsibility, and the nature of intelligence itself.
These five axes together define a coherent and integrated research landscape. Rather than treating AI as an isolated technology, Cognitive AI research emphasizes continuous dialogue between artificial systems, human cognition, and society. This integrative perspective allows scientific advances to inform responsible innovation, while grounding AI development in robust cognitive theory and empirical evidence.