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Earlier this month, researchers from Halmstad University, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, and the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia tested how elementary school students react to a so called traffic robot – a humanoid robot that is supposed to ensure the safe crossing of children across the road in front of schools.

In June, researchers and practitioners from across Sweden gathered at Halmstad University for the annual conference of the Swedish AI Society (SAIS). Hosted by the Center for Applied Intelligent Systems Research (CAISR) at the School of Information Technology, the event featured keynote speakers, poster sessions and discussions on the future directions of artificial intelligence research.

This week, the very first group of students from the programme Applied Artificial Intelligence at Halmstad University are graduating. It marks a historic milestone both for the University and the students who chose to focus on AI three years ago – before ChatGPT was launched and kickstarted the global AI boom.

How can AI be used to anonymise faces in a realistic way, without losing important information in the visual material? In his doctoral thesis in Information Technology, Felix Rosberg explores this question. The results open up new possibilities for the secure and ethical handling of data, for example in the automotive industry.

Last week was the very last week of the academic year at Halmstad University, and like every year, it was a week packed with many activities to celebrate the students who finished their studies. On the agenda was everything from the graduation fair Utexpo and scholarship awards to the graduation ceremony at Halmstad Arena.

How can inefficient, undesirable and even downright harmful institutions remain in place, despite better solutions? Oscar Karlsson, who recently graduated with a doctorate in history, has written in his dissertation about prisons that were never truly intended for prisoners. In particular, Oscar Karlsson has studied English prison ships and Swedish fortress prisons from about 200 years ago. The conditions for the prisoners were utterly unacceptable.

How can we build sustainable cities of the future? Through the EU project RES4CITY, digital, open courses in sustainable energy and mobility are being developed. Halmstad University contributes with expertise in circular business models, energy transition and gender mainstreaming – and is thereby helping to prepare the sustainability leaders of tomorrow.

Martina Aronsson, Head Coach of the Swedish national swimming team, is Alumna of the Year at Halmstad University 2025! Her journey from a bachelor’s degree in sports psychology to a leader at the elite international level shows how academic knowledge can pave the way for success – both in and out of the pool.

Advanced technology and AI are becoming increasingly integrated in healthcare, and it takes time to interpret and assess AI-generated results. New research from Halmstad University on hybrid operating theatres points to a fact that is often overlooked. It takes as much work to create the data and settings on which AI builds its results, as it does to interpret the results afterwards.

What does the path to the right support look like for young adults seeking help for mental health issues? That’s the question researchers at Halmstad University have explored in the research project PadAI. Through interviews with young adults, the researchers show that healthcare journeys can take many forms – from straightforward and secure paths to complicated and winding routes where individuals never quite reach the help they need.