Organisers

Mateusz Dubiel is a Research Associate in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Luxembourg, where he works on development and evaluation of conversational agents. Specifically, his current research focuses on assessment of cognitive and usability implications of interfaces that feature speech, and exploration of their potential to inspire positive behavioural change in users.

Smit Deasai is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His primary research focus centers around comprehending the mental models of users as they engage with conversational agents, utilizing innovative research techniques such as metaphor analysis. He leverages this valuable insight to advance the development of conversational agents in diverse social roles, including educators and storytellers.

Nima Zargham is a Ph.D. student in the Digital Media Lab at the University of Bremen. His research focuses on human-centered approaches for designing speech-based systems that elicit desirable user experiences. Nima has previously organized CUI-related workshops at notable conferences such as ACM/IEEE HRI 2023 and ACM CUI 2023. His research efforts have resulted in publications featured in prestigious HCI venues, including CHI, CUI, and CHI-PLAY.

Anuschka Schmitt  is a research associate and PhD candidate at the University of St.Gallen (HSG), Switzerland and a research fellow at Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She is passionate about the societal and organizational impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), placing special emphasis on conversational AI and its impact on human perception and behavior. Her research mainly engages in user trust and AI-assisted decision-making in knowledge work and educational domains.