معرفی
Ruud Hortensius is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology within the Social and Behavioural Sciences faculty at Utrecht University, where he leads the Human+ research team. He specializes in understanding social cognition during interactions with artificial intelligence, combining psychology, AI, and social neuroscience to investigate how AI shapes human social behavior at individual, group, and family levels.
His educational background includes a PhD in Affective and Social Neuroscience (Cum Laude) from Tilburg University (2016), MSc in Neuroscience and Cognition from Utrecht University (2011), BSc in Psychology (Cum Laude) from Utrecht University (2008), and BSc in Social Work from University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (2005).
Hortensius' research focuses on the neurocognition of real-world interactions with AI, moving beyond lab-based studies to measure social dynamics in natural settings. His work explores how long-term interactions with AI shape social behavior across individuals, groups, and families, with particular emphasis on the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition during human-AI interactions. He investigates whether AI agents function as tools, companions, or family members, and how these relationships impact social dynamics.
His publications reveal a strong focus on social neuroscience methodologies applied to human-robot interaction, with recurring themes including neural network engagement during AI interactions, anthropomorphism, trust formation, and developmental aspects of human-AI relationships. The research spans multiple disciplines including psychology, neuroscience, and computer science, with increasing emphasis on family dynamics and long-term interaction patterns.
- 2025 NIAS-Lorentz Theme Group Fellow
- 2025 NWO Open Competition XS Grant
- 2024 NWO NGF AiNed XS Europe Grant
- 2023 ERC Starting Grant (F-AI-MILY project)
- 2023 Association for Psychological Science Rising Star award
- 2019 Bial Foundation Scientific Research Grant
Hortensius actively supervises PhD students (with ius promovendi) and teaches courses in Social Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence. His research is supported by significant grants including an ERC Starting Grant investigating AI's impact on family dynamics. He collaborates extensively across Utrecht University's Human-centered AI focus area, Human-AI alliance, and Embodied AI initiative, while also engaging in public outreach through the AI Helpdesk platform and artistic collaborations.
He leads the Human+ research team within the Relationship Lab, developing innovative 'neurocognition-at-home' approaches to study social dynamics. Current projects include the F-AI-MILY ERC grant examining how AI integration affects family social dynamics at behavioral and neural levels, and the NIAS Lorentz Theme Group project 'Hybrid Families' investigating AI's role in family systems.
