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Publications

2026

Robotic Process Automation: A Qualitative Journey Through RPA's Impacts on Company Employees

Authors
Simoes, E; Simoes, AC; Rodrigues, JC; Lourenço, P;

Publication
ADVANCES IN PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. CYBER-PHYSICAL-HUMAN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: HUMAN-AI COLLABORATION AND BEYOND, APMS 2025, PT I

Abstract
Companies are increasingly adopting technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to reduce costs and improve productivity. RPA is deployed in areas like accounting, payroll, and finance to automate business processes. While RPA does not necessarily result in unemployment, it has notable effects on employees and company governance. This study explores the impact of RPA implementation on employees and company governance, using a qualitative methodology based on thirteen semi-structured interviews with RPA experts from four multinational companies. The results indicate that the impacts of RPA vary depending on the automation strategy adopted (task-oriented or process-oriented). In task-oriented strategies, citizen developers often play a central role, contributing to rapid implementation. In contrast, process-oriented strategies tend to rely on professional developers and require more structured governance. The findings also point out that RPA influences not only task execution but also employee upskilling, job role redefinition, and the evolution of governance models. The study proposes an integrated framework linking automation strategy, governance, upskilling, and employee adaptation, offering both practical insights and theoretical contributions to digital transformation research and for managing risks and enhancing workforce capabilities. It also advances academic understanding by linking real-world RPA implementations to organisational and technological impacts.

2026

Confirmation Bias in Large Language Models: Risks for Clinical Decision Support Systems

Authors
Ris-Ala, R; Gonçalves, G; Lopes, L; Dantas, T; Paulino, D; Netto, T; Guimarães, D; Teixeira, O; Rocha, A; Vivacqua, AS; Paredes, H;

Publication
2026 29th International Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work in Design (CSCWD)

Abstract

2026

The Green Side of the Lua

Authors
Brandão, A; Matos, D; Guimarães, M; Cunha, S; Saraiva, J;

Publication
SANER Companion

Abstract
The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights the importance of energy-efficient software to reduce the global carbon footprint. Programming languages and execution models strongly influence software energy consumption, with interpreted languages generally being less efficient than compiled ones. Lua illustrates this trade-off: despite its popularity, it is less energy-efficient than greener and faster languages such as C. This paper presents an empirical study of Lua's runtime performance and energy efficiency across 25 official interpreter versions and just-in-time (JIT) compilers. Using a comprehensive benchmark suite, we measure execution time and energy consumption to analyze Lua's evolution, the impact of JIT compilation, and comparisons with other languages. Results show that all LuaJIT compilers significantly outperform standard Lua interpreters. The most efficient LuaJIT consumes about seven times less energy and runs seven times faster than the best Lua interpreter. Moreover, LuaJIT approaches C's efficiency, using roughly six times more energy and running about eight times slower, demonstrating the substantial benefits of JIT compilation for improving both performance and energy efficiency in interpreted languages. © 2026 IEEE.

2026

Large Language Models and Responsible AI in Clinical Decision Support Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

Authors
Paulino, D; Netto, ATC; Ris-Ala, R; Rocha, A; Paredes, H;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION

Abstract
The incorporation of large language models (LLMs) into clinical decision support systems (CDSS) offers potential for enhancing the quality of healthcare. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of comprehensive standards and understanding about the application of explainable and responsible AI practices in this context. The objective of this study is to present an overview of the literature on the utilization of LLMs in CDSSs, with an emphasis on Explainable AI (XAI) techniques and responsible AI principles. The present study was conducted through a systematic literature review analyzed of 36 studies on the application of LLMs in CDSS, with a focus on XAI and responsible AI. Human-centered AI is essential to design CDSSs that not only provide accurate recommendations but also align with clinicians' trust and workflow realities. The results suggest that while LLM-based CDSSs demonstrate potential in enhancing clinical decision-making, concerns regarding model interpretation into healthcare workflows persist as challenges.

2026

A review of visual perception for robotic bin-picking

Authors
Cordeiro, A; Rocha, LF; Boaventura-Cunha, J; Figueiredo, D; Souza, JP;

Publication
ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

Abstract
Robotic bin-picking is a critical operation in modern industry, which is characterised by the detection, selection, and placement of items from a disordered and cluttered environment, which can be boundary limited or not, e.g. bins, boxes or containers. In this context, perception systems are employed to localise, detect and estimate grasping points. Despite the considerable progress made, from analytical approaches to recent deep learning methods, challenges still remain. This is evidenced by the growing innovation proposing distinct solutions. This paper aims to review perception methodologies developed since 2009, providing detailed descriptions and discussions of their implementation. Additionally, it presents an extensive study, detailing each work, along with a comprehensive overview of the advancements in bin-picking perception.

2026

Towards Smarter Property Recommendations in Complex Housing Market

Authors
Nogueira, AR; Pinto, J; Silva, J; Nunes, GD; Curral, M; Sousa, R;

Publication
PROGRESS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, EPIA 2025, PT I

Abstract
Manual selection of real estate properties can pose considerable challenges for agents since it needs a careful balance of various factors to satisfy client requirements while also manoeuvring through the complexities of the market. Although automated valuation models are widely used to estimate property market values, they are not designed to support property recommendation tasks. To address this gap, filteringbased recommendation methods have been explored, including collaborative and content-based approaches. However, these methods face several limitations in the real estate domain. This paper proposes a recommendation methodology designed to identify houses that closely resemble a given property, allowing agents to select the best matches based on geographical and physical characteristics. To assess the performance of the proposed methodology, we employ a range of evaluation metrics that measure different aspects of the model's effectiveness in ranking and recommending relevant items. The findings suggest that, while geographic features may slightly influence ranking behaviour, the model is capable of producing diverse and relevant recommendations consistently.

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