In this talk, Yao will share recent work from his Media Technology and Social Behavior (MTSB) research group exploring what “AI” really is when examined through the lens of human communication. Rather than treating AI simply as a tool or system, we investigate its different ontologies—AI as machine, mind, and media—to understand how people make sense of, interact with, and are shaped by intelligent technologies. Drawing on several ongoing projects in our lab, Yao will discuss how these perspectives challenge traditional models of communication and open up new questions about agency, meaning, and social connection in an AI-mediated world.
Here is a little bit about Dr. Mike Yao: https://media.illinois.edu/yao-mike/
Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch!