Autotelic Interaction Research
![The research basis, interests and contributions of the group. Artist: Solip Park, 2023.](/sites/g/files/flghsv161/files/styles/o_288w_ah_n/public/2023-08/Aalto_Autotelic_Interaction_Research%28website%29_rev5_Quicksand_0.jpg?itok=dI4yqt_G)
Being rewarding in and of themselves, autotelic (gr. autos - self, telos - end/goal) behaviours are key to lifelong cognitive development, underlie many forms of play and creativity, and have been linked to human well-being. We combine computational modelling, theoretical work and empirical Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) studies to understand, reproduce and foster autotelic behaviour. We approach this as an interdisciplinary team, bridging between AI, HCI, and Cognitive Science, as well as various application domains such as Videogames and Design. Our research contributes to the development of more adaptive, creative, playful and open-ended AI; aims to foster richer and more meaningful interaction through insights into human-AI goal alignment; and yields artefacts and methods contributing to peoples’ autotelic activities. Some examples of our research:
- Computational models of intrinsic motivation
- Minimal models of creative cognition
- Methods for next-generation videogame AI
- User studies to support the sustainable adoption of co-creative AI
We are part of the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence FCAI, the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT, and the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems ELLIS.
![The AIR Group and visitors on a nature outing in October 2023 (some members missing)](/sites/g/files/flghsv161/files/styles/o_914w_ah_n_nu/public/2023-11/air_group_oct_23.jpg?itok=EAYfVwIG)
Meet the Group
![Christian Guckelsberger](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/82539365/2021_Christian_Guckelsberger_School_of_Science_photo_Matti_Ahlgren_5_smoothened.jpg)
![Perttu Hämäläinen](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/3068651/1161584_x_512.jpg)
![Nadia Ady](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/118585301/NadiaPic_1_modified.png)
![Daniel Carter](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/109095502/prof.jpg)
![Erik Lintunen](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/98295694/erik.png)
![Sebastian Berns](https://www.aalto.fi/sites/g/files/flghsv161/files/styles/1_120w_120h_d/public/2024-02/Sebastian_Berns_0.jpg?h=51067f6d&itok=wGbcx256)
![Katri Manninen](https://www.aalto.fi/sites/g/files/flghsv161/files/styles/1_120w_120h_d/public/2024-02/Katri-Manninen-2.jpg?h=a7ffc51c&itok=BnMN9koo)
Alumni
Visitors
- Natalya Weber (Doctoral Resarcher, Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology)
Master Thesis Students
- Vertti Luostarinen (M.A., Art & Media)
- Julius Repo (M.A., Film)
- Veera Vimpari (MSc., CS)
- Inan Evin (MSc., CS)
- Ville Kopio (MSc., CS, Univ. of Helsinki)
- Xuehao Zhang (MSc., CS)
- Susanna Värtinen (MSc., CS)
- Antti Mäkipää (MSc., CS)
Research Assistants
- Niki Pennanen
Come work with us!
We’re always interested in meeting curious, smart and ambitious people to work with. If you would like to do a Research Visit/Postdoc/PhD or your MSc thesis with us, please send an email to Christian with:
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Your study transcript incl. grades and scale;
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CV incl. examples of previous work;
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Short motivation incl. the research questions that excite you most, and how they connect with our work specifically.
Unfortunately, we do not have time to respond to requests that do not include these materials.
We also encourage you to check out Postdoc/PhD positions in our group advertised through the FCAI/HIIT bi-annual calls. If you are still looking for an inspiring MSc thesis topic, please also check out our current MSc topic offerings on the Aalto CS Wiki.
Latest Publications
Not All the Same: Understanding and Informing Similarity Estimation in Tile-Based Video Games
WAVE : Anticipatory Movement Visualization for VR Dancing
Creativity and Markov Decision Processes
Advancing Self-Determination Theory With Computational Intrinsic Motivation: The Case of Competence
On Creativity and Open-Endedness
Creative collaboration with interactive evolutionary algorithms: a reflective exploratory design study
Towards Mode Balancing of Generative Models via Diversity Weights
Designing for Playfulness in Human-AI Authoring Tools
Computationally Modelling Self-Determination Theory for HCI: The Case of Competence
Effects of Cognitive Abilities on Success in Computer Use
Related Professors
![Samuel Kaski](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/54198196/Samuel_Kaski_AUM_078_small.jpg)
Samuel Kaski
![Jaakko Lehtinen](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/3070015/1167353_x_512.jpg)
Jaakko Lehtinen
Janne Lindqvist
Antti Oulasvirta
![Robin Welsch](https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/91160062/Welsch_Robin_School_of_Science_2022_photo_Matti_Ahlgren_Aalto_University_6.jpeg)
Robin Welsch
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