Icons for human - machine collaboration (HMC):

Visual Standards for Research and Publications

Beta Version

Overview

‘What if we had a Turing declaration for human intelligence?’, this was the question for the future in Opportunity 41 in the 2024 edition of The Global 50 report for the post-Turing era, where machine language and intelligence are indistinguishable from human language and intelligence: To follow up on this opportunity, while acknowledging the nuanced evolving nature of human–machine collaboration, the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) is introducing a classification system that supports a visual representation of the evolving human-machine collaboration in research, design and publications.

Described in detail in our white paper, our aim is to support transparency in research and provide – at a glance – a standard mechanism that allows readers, researchers and decision-makers to see the extent to which research outputs have been shaped by machines, i.e. a process based approach. While we recognise that research, design and publications in the future may increasingly rely on autonomous processes, this shift may not be uniformly applied across all contexts, fields, functions and industries during the transitional period, a time frame that may last a couple of years or up to (and perhaps even longer than) 10 years.

By ‘research and publications’, we mean all intellectual and creative work carried out during the research process, content creation, publication design and related outputs. This includes but is not limited to academic papers, research articles and reports, data visualisations, books, articles, visual content, art, educational materials and technical documentation.

Effective from the date of the white paper, every DFF research report will display respective icons for human-machine collaboration, demonstrating our commitment to transparency and establishing a new standard for ethical research practices.

Guidance

HMC icons for research (design) and publications work by combining icons for human-machine collaboration and icons for common research and publication functions. The icons are designed to work together to provide a simple, visual representation of the WHAT and HOW of machine involvement in the research and publication process. From “all human” to “all machine”, these icons provide – at a glance – a standard depiction of the extent to which research outputs have been shaped by machines.

Icons for Human - Machine Collaboration

Human Role	Icon Representation	Machine Role
All human	All human.	None
Leader	Human led. Machines conduct checks, highlight and correct errors, enhance output.	Oversight
Collaborator	Machine assisted. Machines and humans work together.	Collaborator
Oversight	Machine led. Humans conduct checks, highlight and correct errors, enhance output.	Leader
None	All machine.	All machine

Icons for Common Research and Publications Functions

Ideation	Literature Review	Data Collection
Data Analysis	Data Interpretation	Writing
Translation	Visuals	Design

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of the HMC icons?

The HMC icons provide a clear and standardised way of showing the extent to which machines were involved in the research and publication process within a specific report or publication.

Why do we need HMC icons?

As machine contributions become more common in research, writing, and content creation, the icons help promote transparency particularly important for readers using such reports or publications to inform decision-making.

Are the HMC icons mandatory?

No, the icons are opt-in and voluntary except for all Dubai Government entities or those working with the Dubai Government. They are meant to encourage honest self-assessment and transparency. Anyone involved in creating content, including researchers, writers, designers, or consultants, can choose to use them.

What is the scope of "research and publications"?

It includes all creative and intellectual work produced as an output of research. This ranges from academic papers, technical and annual reports, to videos, art, educational materials and other multimedia content.

How do you define a Machine in HMC icons?

We use a broad definition of a ‘machine’ to include digital technologies such as algorithms, automation tools, generative AI and robots, any system that contributes to the research or content production process.

Do I need to include all common research and publication functions in my icons?

No. Only use the functions that were actually part of your process.

What’s the difference between visuals that are ‘Machine Assisted’ and those that are ‘Human Led’?

‘Machine Assisted’ visuals involve tools like AI to help generate or enhance imagery from the start. In contrast, “Human Led” visuals begin with a human-driven concept, direction, and original imagery, with minimal or no machine input at the start.

Can I use these icons for non-research content?

Yes! You can use them on social media, in videos, images, or any other content that involves, or could involve, AI or machine assistance.

How does the HMC icon system work?

The system has two parts:

Step 1: HMC icons that show the level of human vs. machine involvement (from fully human to fully machine).

Step 2: Identifies the specific common research and publications functions involved (e.g., ideation, data analysis, writing, visuals).

Is there a standard way to measure the percentage of machine involvement?

No. The framework avoids strict percentages because it’s hard to measure AI contributions objectively, especially with generative tools.

How do the HMC icons compare to Human-in-the-loop (HITL), Human-on-the-loop (HOTL), Human-out of-the-loop (HOOTL) and other concepts used in designing AI?

They are closely related, but these are simplified and made specific for use in research and publications.

Where should the icons be placed?

Place them on the cover, in the footnotes, or in the disclaimer section of your research paper, report, or content.

Are the icons copyrighted?

Yes, the icons are copyrighted by the Dubai Future Foundation.

Do I need permission to use the icons?

No. The icons are free to use.

Can I start using these icons in my own work?

Absolutely! And you’re welcome to share your feedback with the team at [email protected].

Click here to view example

Non research example

Help me choose

Downloads

Use this selector tool to download the respective icons. Researchers, writers, publishers and any other content creators may voluntarily opt in to adopt these standards. We invite the global community to provide feedback and to let us know how they are using the icons.

Icon Combiner

Step 1: Choose Icons for Human-Machine Collaboration

Step 2: Choose icons for Common Research and Publications Functions (where applicable)

By downloading the HMC icons, you acknowledge that you have read and accepted the terms and conditions of use and that you also accept and agree to be bound by the terms of the User licence.