Tom Williams

This presentation focuses on the role that notions of agency play in the design of language-capable interactive robots. I will begin by explaining the overall impact that robot design choices have on how people perceive robots and expect them to behave. I’ll then explain why robots are not simply agents, but are also moral and social agents, and describe the work the MIRRORLab has been doing to understand and address the unique perceptions and expectations that come along with these more nuanced types of agency. In doing so, I will cover not only the computational aspects of our work, but also the way that our work is informed by theories and methods from psychology (cognitive, human factors, social, and moral), philosophy (of mind, of language, of morality), linguistics, design, and other fields. 

Biography:

Tom Williams holds a PhD in Computer Science and Cognitive Science and MS in Computer Science from Tufts University, and a BA in Computer Science with minors in Mathematics and Creative Writing from Hamilton College. Dr Williams is an Assistant Professor at the Colorado School of Mines, where he directs the Mines Interactive Robotics Research Laboratory (MIRRORLab), with ten years of research experience in the fields of Human-Robot Interaction, Cognitive Systems, and Artificial Intelligence. Dr Williams’ research interests focus on morally and socially competent human-robot communication through natural language.  

 Dr. Williams’ research has been supported by multiple federal agencies, including Early Career Awards from NSF, NASA, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Tom has taken leadership roles in the organization of the international conferences on Human Robot Interaction and Social Robotics, and has been a featured member of the ACM.