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arXiv · 2502.14000

Human-Artificial Interaction in the Age of Agentic AI: A System-Theoretical Approach

Uwe M. Borghoff·Paolo Bottoni·Remo Pareschi
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Abstract

This paper presents a novel perspective on human-computer interaction (HCI), framing it as a dynamic interplay between human and computational agents within a networked system. Going beyond traditional interface-based approaches, we emphasize the importance of coordination and communication among heterogeneous agents with different capabilities, roles, and goals. A key distinction is made between multi-agent systems (MAS) and Centaurian systems, which represent two different paradigms of human-AI collaboration. MAS maintain agent autonomy, with structured protocols enabling cooperation, while Centaurian systems deeply integrate human and AI capabilities, creating unified decision-making entities. To formalize these interactions, we introduce a framework for communication spaces, structured into surface, observation, and computation layers, ensuring seamless integration between MAS and Centaurian architectures, where colored Petri nets effectively represent structured Centaurian systems and high-level reconfigurable networks address the dynamic nature of MAS. Our research has practical applications in autonomous robotics, human-in-the-loop decision making, and AI-driven cognitive architectures, and provides a foundation for next-generation hybrid intelligence systems that balance structured coordination with emergent behavior.

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Uwe M. Borghoff, Paolo Bottoni, Remo Pareschi. 2025-02-19. Human-Artificial Interaction in the Age of Agentic AI: A System-Theoretical Approach. https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2025.1579166

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