MBZUAI has received a Google Academic Research Award to study how AI can better understand and respond to human loneliness in digital spaces. The project will examine how loneliness is expressed online, how conversational agents can detect it, and what healthier AI companionship could look like. The research aims to define digital loneliness and address the potential negative impacts of AI chatbots on users.
An MBZUAI team led by Thamar Solorio and Monojit Choudhury received a Google Academic Research Award to study how AI can better understand and respond to human loneliness in digital spaces. The project will examine how loneliness is expressed online, how conversational agents can detect it, and what healthier AI companionship could look like in collaboration with Georgia Tech. The team aims to define digital loneliness and its expression in online conversations with AI. Why it matters: This research addresses a growing global issue by exploring the ethical and psychological implications of AI companionship, potentially leading to safer and more beneficial AI interactions.
In a 2018 KAUST lecture, MIT professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi discussed the case of Ordos Kangbashi, a Chinese city designed for a million residents that became a near-ghost town. Despite government incentives, the city struggled due to an economic downturn and lack of social and economic balance. Youcef-Toumi emphasized the importance of the public realm and a balance between social and economic development for successful cities. Why it matters: The analysis provides insights relevant to urban planning in Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC region, where new cities and megaprojects are being developed.