Human-Centric NLP or AI-Centric Illusion?: A Critical Investigation
It critiques a foundational issue in NLP for researchers and practitioners, highlighting the need for redefinition to ensure technologies serve users better.
This study investigates the gap between the ideals and practices of Human-Centric NLP, finding that many implementations are AI-centric and misaligned with human-centered design principles, reducing human factors to benchmarks and neglecting real-world impacts.
Human-Centric NLP often claims to prioritise human needs and values, yet many implementations reveal an underlying AI-centric focus. Through an analysis of case studies in language modelling, behavioural testing, and multi-modal alignment, this study identifies a significant gap between the ideas of human-centricity and actual practices. Key issues include misalignment with human-centred design principles, the reduction of human factors to mere benchmarks, and insufficient consideration of real-world impacts. The discussion explores whether Human-Centric NLP embodies true human-centred design, emphasising the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical considerations. The paper advocates for a redefinition of Human-Centric NLP, urging a broader focus on real-world utility and societal implications to ensure that language technologies genuinely serve and empower users.