James Landay focuses on human-centered AI, particularly in education and health, where AI serves as a coaching and tutoring tool to optimize technology for societal good.
GPT Coach uses a large language model to simulate a personal fitness coach, processing qualitative data from users to create personalized fitness plans, incorporating techniques like motivational interviewing.
Health professionals provide insights and methods for coaching, which are integrated into the AI system to ensure the coaching style aligns with effective health practices.
Smart Primer uses narrative-driven tutoring systems with augmented reality and AI to engage children in hands-on learning, encouraging them to write more through personalized feedback from large language models.
Ambient awareness involves using subtle displays on devices like phones to provide users with information about their progress towards goals without requiring active attention, enhancing engagement and goal adherence.
Human-centered AI considers not just the user but also the broader community and societal impacts, ensuring AI systems have positive effects beyond the immediate user interaction.
Acorn allows for dynamic story generation based on user interactions, enabling personalized learning paths and larger learning gains compared to pre-written narratives.
Social features can provide group support and motivation, though they must be carefully designed to avoid negative interactions that could discourage users from achieving their goals.
Future interfaces will combine graphical elements, ambient displays, and conversational interactions, allowing users to adjust plans and receive motivation through a mix of visual and verbal cues.
The Acorn project achieved significant learning gains with large effect sizes, indicating the effectiveness of personalized, narrative-driven learning experiences powered by AI.
Guest James Landay) is an expert in human-centered artificial intelligence, a field all about optimizing technology for human and societal good. Landay says one of the most promising intersections is in education and AI, where the technology excels as a coaching and tutoring tool. His Smart Primer and Acorn apps use augmented reality and AI to engage children in outdoor, hands-on environmental science, and his GPT Coach is an AI-powered fitness planning tool. When it comes to AI and education, things are wide open and only just getting started, Landay tells host Russ Altman) on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest James Landay, a professor of computer science at Stanford University.
(00:02:04) Evolving AI Applications
How large language models can replicate personal coaching experiences.
(00:06:44) Role of Health Experts in AI
Integrating insights from medical professionals into AI coaching systems.
(00:10:21) Personalization in AI Coaching
How AI coaches can adapt personalities and avatars to cater to user preferences.
(00:12:51) Group Dynamics in AI Coaching
Pros and cons of adding social features and group support to AI coaching systems.
(00:14:08) Ambient Awareness in Technology
Ambient awareness and how it enhances user engagement without active attention.
(00:17:44) Using AI in Elementary Education
Narrative-driven tutoring systems to inspire kids' learning and creativity.
(00:22:59) Encouraging Student Writing with AI
Using LLMs to motivate students to write through personalized feedback.
(00:23:52) Scaling AI Educational Tools
The ACORN project and creating dynamic, scalable learning experiences.
(00:27:58) Human-Centered AI
The concept of human-centered AI and its focus on designing for society.
(00:30:34) Conclusion
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