Digital brain surrounded by glowing dots and lines in a dark room.

When AI “thinks” like us 

New research forms a link between human and machine representations. In this regard, scientists from BIFOLD have developed the AligNet approach in collaboration with Google DeepMind and Max Planck Institute for Human Development.
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Delegation to Artificial Intelligence can increase dishonest behavior

While there is a promise of great productivity gains, a new study published in Nature highlights the risk of unethical behavior from delegating decisions to AI. An international research team, including scientists from our Research Centers ARC and CHM, warns that people request dishonest behavior from AI systems, and that AI systems are prone to comply.
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Our Institute in the media

Here you can find links to selected articles, radio- and TV reports about the activities of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in 2025.
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Join our research – become part of our studies

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is always looking for adults and children of all ages, who would like to take part in studies.
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About our Institute

Get to know us – our Research Center and Groups, our service structure, and what drives us in our scientific work.


Newsroom
Digital brain surrounded by glowing dots and lines in a dark room.

When AI “thinks” like us 

November 13, 2025

Artificial Intelligence Press Release
New research forms a link between human and machine representations. In this regard, scientists from BIFOLD have developed the AligNet approach in collaboration with Google DeepMind and Max Planck Institute for Human Development.
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Symbolic image from an online page titled News.

Zeit Online – Sogar die Macher wissen nicht, wie ihr Chatbot reagiert

November 09, 2025

Artificial Intelligence CHM Media Echo
Many users confide their personal problems and concerns in ChatGPT.  But what might this mean for children and young people in particular?
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Portrait of Iyad Rahwan in front of a white wall with windows. He is wearing a light blue sweater and a dark blue blazer.

Lagrange Prize – CRT Foundation Edition 2025 awarded to Iyad Rahwan

October 29, 2025

Awards CHM
International award recognizing excellence in complex systems and data science
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A gray robot sits at a desk and checks documents. In the background, a scale floats, symbolizing justice.

Automatically disadvantaged? What benefit recipients think about the use of AI in welfare decisions 

September 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence CHM Press Release
Surveys in the US and the UK on attitudes toward automated decision-making processes in the allocation of social benefits 
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The picture shows Shahar Hechtlinger (female) in profile in front of a concrete wall. She has long brown hair and is wearing a blue top. She is smiling slightly at the camera.

Shahar Hechtlinger was awarded the de Finetti Award of the European Association for Decision Making 

September 24, 2025

ARC Awards
The EADM recognizes outstanding research in the field of decision making 
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A hand controls a robot like a marionette in front of a coloured background.

Delegation to Artificial Intelligence can increase dishonest behavior

September 17, 2025

ARC Artificial Intelligence CHM Press Release
International research team warns that people request dishonest behavior from AI systems, and that AI systems are prone to comply 
more
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Latest Publications
Journal Article
Muttenthaler, L., Greff, K., Born, F., Spitzer, B., Kornblith, S., Mozer, M. C., Müller, K.-R., Unterthiner, T., & Lampinen, A. K. (2025). Aligning machine and human visual representations across abstraction levels. Nature, 647, 349–355. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09631-6
MPG.PuRe
DOI
publisher-version
supplementary-material
Journal Article
Zenkri, O., Bolenz, F., Pachur, T., & Brock, O. (2025). Human exploration in complex problem-solving tasks: More effortful interaction leads to higher efficiency. Adaptive Behavior, 33(5-6), 321–332. https://doi.org/10.1177/10597123251364738
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Journal Article
Gigerenzer, G. (2025). Two kinds of bias. Mind & Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11299-025-00362-9
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Journal Article
Petersen, M., Emskötter, D., Nägele, F. L., Mayer, C., Schell, M., Fiehler, J., Gallinat, J., Kühn, S., Twerenbold, R., Jensen, M., Thomalla, G., & Cheng, B. (2025). Mapping the association of cerebral small vessel disease, gray matter integrity, and cognitive function. Neurology, 105(9), Article e214215. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214215
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publisher-version
supplementary-material

Latest Events

Exhibition by Francesco Mancori | Radical Dualism

Oct 10, 2025 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany) - Dec 10, 2025 06:00 PM
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Room: Foyer

Exhibition by Elise Garnaut | Concentric Circles in Nature

Nov 20, 2025 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany) - Feb 18, 2026 06:00 PM
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Room: 1. OG, ARC corridor

Morgan Barense, University of Toronto, Canada

Dec 3, 2025 01:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Room: Big Conference Room
Further Publications


Further Events



Current Research Results


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Cover of the book "Lost dynamics and the dynamics of loss"
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Cover of the book "Jahrbuch Deutsche Einheit 2022"
It shows the Book Cover The Body Unburdened written by Esra Sarioglu. The upper third displays the book title and name, in the lower two thirds is a photo of a woman standing in the midst of police officers and the proud look is led away.
In the center of the picture, an observatory on wheels can be seen, with people standing around it marveling. At the lower left edge, a speaker stands at the lectern and points into the sky.
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The title of the book is Does prefrontal connectivity during task switching help or hinder children’s performance
Cover of the Book The integrity of dopaminergic and noradrenergic brain regions is associated with different aspects of late-life memory performance
Cover of the book "The Intelligence of Intuition"
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The cover of Smart Management by Gerd Gigerenzer, Jochen Reb, and Shenghua Luan features a simple and modern design. The title is prominently displayed, highlighting the key theme of the book: "How Simple Heuristics Help Leaders Make Good Decisions in an Uncertain World." The overall aesthetic reflects a professional tone, suitable for a leadership and management guide, with clean lines and minimalistic colors that emphasize clarity and strategic thinking, in line with the book's focus on simplifying decision-making in complex environments.
Cover of the book "Insurgent Fandom"
Cover of the book "Geschichte und Gesellschaft. Zeitschrift für Historische Sozialwissenschaften"
The picture is predominantly in red. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan can be seen in side profile. A dark column runs through the center of the picture. The title of the book is in the center. A person looking up and bright lights can be seen in the background.
Cover of the book "Environmental Neuroscience"
The image shows the dummy from the cover From Animal Models to Human Individuality: Integrative Approaches to the Study of Brain Plasticity
Cover of the book "Verfassungsgefühle. Die Deutschen und ihre Staatsgrundgesetze"
Cover Anti-Autocracy-Handbook
Propaganda and Disinformation

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Current Job Openings

Current Job Openings

We are looking for qualified and motivated professionals to join our Research Center and Services. Here you can find all open positions along with details about responsibilities and requirements.



 
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Equal Opportunities

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is committed to promoting equal opportunities for all genders. We take both organizational and personnel measures to facilitate the reconciliation of work and family life and to promote women’s careers. Our aim is to ensure a positive environment that promotes and supports excellence.
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Research Schools

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development provides many opportunities for predocs. Among others, the two International Max Planck Research Schools at the Institute as well as the Max Planck School of Cognition provide an excellent training context.

 
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