Research Seminar — What is AI to Human Users? An Ontological Exploration of Human-AI Communication

Prof. Mike Yao is a Professor of Digital Media and the Director of the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He also directs the Media, Technology, and Social Behavior (MTSB) Research Lab at UIUC and is currently a visiting professor at the Education University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on the social and psychological impacts of interactive digital media, including online behaviour, digital literacy, and computer-mediated communication. Currently, he investigates how users perceive and manage personal boundaries on social media, examining attitudes, beliefs, and self-protective behaviours related to online privacy through a psychosocial framework that considers cognitive appraisal, social norms, and individual differences. Additionally, Prof. Yao studies the psychological effects of digital media use, such as video games and social platforms, on users’ social behaviour both online and offline. He is actively developing an integrated theory of digitally mediated human behaviour, offering critical insights into the complex dynamics between technology and society.