Iyad Rahwan

Prof. Iyad Rahwan is the Director of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, where he founded and leads the Center for Humans & Machines. He is also an honorary professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Technical University of Berlin. Previously, he was an Associate Professor of Media Arts & Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He holds a PhD in Information Systems (Artificial Intelligence) from the University of Melbourne.

Research Interests:

• Computational Social Science
• Artificial Intelligence and Human Behavior
• Human-Machine Cooperation
• AI Ethics and Governance
• Social and Economic Impact of AI
• Collective Intelligence and Social Mobilization

His recent publications span top journals like Nature, Science, and PNAS, focusing on how AI reshapes collective intelligence, moral psychology of AI, human-algorithm cultural transmission, labor markets, and urban innovation. The work reflects a strong interdisciplinary trend integrating AI, behavioral science, economics, and ethics.

Scientific Awards and Memberships:

• Senior and Lifetime Member, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Lifetime Member, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI)
• Advisor, United Nations Development Programme on AI for Human Development (2025)
• Member, World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Human Capital Development (2025–2026)
• Member, Dubai Future Council on Artificial Intelligence
• Member, Advisory Board, MIT Technology Review (Arabic edition)

Advising and Grants:
While specific students are not listed, his leadership of the Center for Humans & Machines indicates extensive mentorship and team supervision. His research is supported by major grants enabling large-scale studies in AI and society, including work funded by Max Planck Society and international collaborations.

Labs and Teams:
He founded and directs the Center for Humans & Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, a leading interdisciplinary research group exploring the interaction between humans and intelligent systems.