Mai Lee Chang, PhD
I am a researcher in the areas of AI, robotics, and user experience. I explore human-agent interaction where an agent can be a robot, conversational agent, or other AI embodiment. I focus on developing agents that quickly assimilate into human environments, are accepted and used, and are experienced as valuable and meaningful. My work enables robotic teammates to align with people’s values by optimizing for the team’s task performance and treating human teammates fairly. I examine these phenomena in complex, multi-stakeholder environments in a National Science Foundation-funded AI Institute (AI-CARING) focused on older adults with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers. I leverage both quantitative and qualitative research methods. My research has been featured at top-tier conferences and influential platforms, including TEDx. Through my work, I aspire to advance AI technologies that uphold human values, minimize unintended harm, and enhance quality of life.
I was recently a postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute working with Prof. Jodi Forlizzi and Prof. John Zimmerman. I completed my Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin advised by Prof. Andrea Thomaz. Prior to my Ph.D., I worked as an engineer at NASA-Johnson Space Center.
Interested to know more or want to collaborate?
Ways to get in touch with me:
Email: mlchang@utexas.edu