Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a key tool in scientific research, but it brings challenges like trust and over-reliance. In this talk, I will discuss how people use AI for data-driven decisions, emphasizing the need to balance AI suggestions with human critical thinking. I will share insights from studies on human-AI interaction and suggest ways to improve explanations and transparency, helping users think critically about AI recommendations. While large language models (LLMs) are often highlighted in AI discussions, I will place them in a broader context and explore their use in data visualization. Finally, I will consider how the scientific community can create AI systems that enhance discoveries while promoting careful and trustworthy reasoning.
Alvitta Ottley is an associate professor of computer science & engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research combines computer science, psychology and design to improve how people make decisions with data, focusing on transparency, trust and effective human–AI collaboration. Ottley received the NSF CRII Award (2018) for visualization in medical decision-making, the NSF CAREER Award for context-aware visual analytics, and the 2022 EuroVis Early Career Award. She is a co-PI of the NSF Institute for Data-Driven Dynamical Design (ID4), where her work advances human–AI teaming in scientific discovery. Her work appears in top visualization venues, including ACM CHI and IEEE VIS.
Join us on Thursday, Sept. 18, for this exciting Tech Talk hosted by the Program in Computing. The presentation will begin in Tomsich 101 and there will be pizza. We hope to see you there!