Understanding
How do people experience AI?
We study how people perceive, trust, and build relationships with conversational systems. Understanding those experiences is the starting point for thoughtful design.
04 / About CHAI
Human experience comes first.
The Conversational Human–AI Interactions Lab at Northeastern University brings design, HCI, and AI together to study how conversational systems can enhance human capabilities.
Our starting point
We explore how AI can adapt to individual needs, collaborate in decision-making, and support people in emotionally complex situations. Human agency guides what we build and how we evaluate it.
Creating
What could a better conversation look like?
We bring design, HCI, and AI together to create voice assistants, chatbots, and interactive agents that respond to real human needs.
Refining
How do we make it work better for people?
We evaluate and improve conversational experiences, asking what makes an interaction useful, responsible, and respectful of human agency.
Research focus
What our work makes possible.
Personalization
Interactions that respond to people’s goals, communication styles, emotions, and contexts.
Collaboration
Systems that help people make decisions, create, and develop shared understanding.
Support
Tools that reduce mental load and respond thoughtfully in demanding situations.
Across health, learning, explainability, decision making, and aging.