On 28 January 2026, the TANGO project contributed to the online webinar “From Command to Collaboration: Reimagining the Human–AI Relationship”, jointly organised with the EU-funded projects AI4REALNET, THEMIS 5.0, HumAInE, and COMFORTage.
The event brought together more than 50 participants from research, policy, and practice communities.

The webinar explored how human–AI interaction is evolving beyond command-based models towards collaborative and human-centred approaches, while maintaining clear boundaries of responsibility, accountability, and oversight. Discussions were closely aligned with European priorities on trustworthy and human-centric AI.

TANGO’s contribution

During the session, TANGO shared its perspective on synergistic human–machine decision-making, emphasising that collaboration with AI should not be confused with autonomy or agency. A key message was the importance of avoiding anthropomorphism: AI systems do not possess goals, intentions, or values of their own, but operate strictly within objectives defined by humans.

TANGO further highlighted that effective collaboration depends on a clear differentiation between human judgment and machine support, the careful use of language such as “collaboration” or “teaming”, and the presence of robust governance frameworks that ensure meaningful human oversight throughout the system lifecycle.

Key discussion themes

Across the project presentations and the open discussion, several cross-cutting issues emerged. These included the distinction between AI reliability and trustworthiness, with trustworthiness understood as a broader, multi-dimensional concept extending beyond technical performance. Speakers also stressed the continued need for human-in-the-loop or human-on-the-loop mechanisms, particularly as AI systems become more agentic. In addition, the role of design choices and terminology in shaping user understanding and trust was repeatedly emphasised.

Conclusion

The webinar confirmed the relevance of TANGO’s approach to human–AI interaction: collaboration delivers value when human responsibility remains central and clearly defined. Exchanges with sister projects reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary and human-centred design in developing AI systems that are both effective and aligned with European values.

A recording and transcript of the webinar are expected to be made available by the organisers in the coming days.