Hanna Heino

Papers

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About

Hanna Heino is a researcher whose work critically examines the intersection of artificial intelligence, futures studies, and societal impact. Her key research areas include AI futures imaginaries, the sociotechnical dynamics of AI development, and how technology practitioners shape emerging narratives around artificial intelligence. Heino’s major contribution lies in empirically investigating how AI developers and engineers themselves envision the future—an underexplored but crucial perspective. Her most-cited paper, “Spectrum of AI futures imaginaries by AI practitioners in Finland and Singapore: The unimagined speed of AI progress” (2023, 21 citations), reveals that even those building AI systems often hold narrow, speed-focused imaginaries, overlooking broader ethical and societal dimensions. This work highlights a critical gap between technological acceleration and thoughtful foresight. Heino’s research is notable for bridging futures studies with empirical social science, offering grounded insights into how AI’s trajectory is being shaped from within. Her findings challenge both utopian and dystopian extremes, urging a more nuanced understanding of AI’s possible futures. For students and researchers, Heino’s work is a vital reminder that the future of AI is not just a technical question—it is also a human one, shaped by the imaginations and blind spots of its creators.