The 2026 Annual Meeting keynote speech will be delivered by Prof Wendy E. Mackay
Applying Generative Theory to Human-Computer Partnerships
How can we can design “human-computer partnerships” that take optimal advantage of human skills and system capabilities? Artificial Intelligence research usually measures the effectiveness of an algorithm — I argue that better AI algorithms are neither necessary nor sufficient for creating better intelligent systems. Instead, we need to focus on how to create more effective interaction with these systems. I first describe the concept of “generative theories of interaction”, which transform existing theories of human behavior into actionable principles that can be applied to the design of interactive systems. I then illustrate how we have applied these principles to produce simpler yet more powerful intelligent systems that users can both learn and appropriate to meet their needs.