Sam Thellman is an Assistant Professor in Cognitive Science at Linköping University, specializing in human–AI interaction and human–robot interaction. His research focuses on how people intuitively interpret and interact with intelligent systems, particularly how they attribute mental states, intentions, and knowledge to robots and autonomous vehicles. By studying these cognitive processes, his work contributes to the development of AI systems that are more predictable, explainable, and aligned with human expectations. He is also involved in interdisciplinary research on human-vehicle interaction, examining how road users anticipate the behavior of self-driving cars. Through both theoretical and experimental approaches, his research provides insights that support the design of safe and purposeful human–AI interactions.
