Mission & Research
At Clemson University's Center for Human-AI Interaction, Collaboration, and Teaming (CU-CHAI), our research is guided by a simple yet profound mission: to understand and advance the relationship between humans and AI in meaningful, impactful ways. Our ongoing projects and recent accomplishments illustrate the breadth and depth of our commitment to this mission, reflecting our position as a leader in the field of human-AI collaboration.
Leveraging Human Intelligence to Accelerate AI Advancements
One of our core missions is to leverage human intelligence to accelerate AI advancements, ensuring that AI systems are not only powerful and efficient but also deeply aligned with human values, capabilities, and goals. We believe that human expertise, creativity, and strategic decision-making are essential for shaping AI’s evolution—enhancing its ability to learn, adapt, and function responsibly.
Through interdisciplinary research spanning cognitive science, machine learning, and organizational behavior, we explore how human insight can refine AI models, improve decision-making, and drive innovation. By fostering seamless human-AI collaboration, we aim to develop AI systems that amplify human capabilities, strengthen organizational performance, and address complex societal challenges. Our goal is to create AI that is intuitive, trustworthy, and beneficial, ultimately transforming the way humans and AI work together to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
Forecasting and Enabling the Contextual Application of Human-AI Interaction
At CU-CHAI, we strive to forecast and enable the contextual application of human-AI interaction, ensuring that AI systems are designed and deployed with a deep understanding of real-world environments, user needs, and organizational dynamics. By integrating insights from cognitive science, human-computer interaction, and machine learning, we aim to create AI systems that are responsive, intuitive, and seamlessly embedded in human collaboration.
We focus on how AI can adapt to diverse contexts — from optimizing decision-making in military operations and streamlining manufacturing processes to advancing healthcare delivery and driving innovation in technology development.
Our goal is to build systems that enhance productivity, support decision-making, and evolve alongside human expertise, shaping a future where AI intelligently adapts to its users and the unique demands of their environments.
Enabling AI to Operate as a Teammate Alongside Humans and In the Workplace
The next mission of CU-CHAI is to transform AI from a one-dimensional tool into a capable teammate that works seamlessly alongside humans to achieve complex goals. CU-CHAI focuses on developing AI systems that actively contribute to team success by adapting to diverse roles, complementing human capabilities, communicating effectively, and supporting both individual and team-wide objectives.
These AI systems are designed to integrate into group dynamics, share tasks equitably, and foster trust and accountability, enhancing productivity and collaboration across industries. By emphasizing key teamwork processes—such as adjusting to shifting priorities, recognizing expertise, and providing timely, context-aware support—CU-CHAI ensures AI operates as a reliable and adaptive partner. Through applied research in diverse workplace contexts like manufacturing, technology, and defense, the center addresses challenges such as communication, team composition, and performance optimization.
CU-CHAI will ensure that AI amplifies human potential and strengthens teamwork across all sectors of society.
Designing Collaborative AI for Social Good
Another core mission is to design collaborative AI for social good, focusing on the development of AI systems that work in tandem with humans to tackle critical societal challenges.
We explore how AI can augment human capabilities in solving societal challenges, supporting underpinning functions of society, and supporting individuals and organizations that strive to leverage AI to benefit and progress society. By prioritizing collaboration, we aim to design AI that is not only efficient and powerful but also adaptable and responsible, ensuring that its applications align with broader societal goals.
Through research in human-computer interaction, machine learning, and ethical AI design, we are committed to building systems that support community resilience, enhance problem-solving, and deliver lasting benefits to society, ultimately advancing solutions that foster a more resilient and innovative future for all.
Advancing Engineering Sciences Through AI Integration
A prominent mission of CU-CHAI is to harness the power of AI to revolutionize engineering research practices and innovation.
Collaboration Across Departments
CU-CHAI aims to work in collaboration with various engineering research departments, from materials science to industrial, electrical, mechanical, and environmental engineering, to improve the use of collaborative AI technologies within research. In doing So, CU-CHAI aims to enhance creativity, precision, and efficiency in the design, analysis, and optimization of complex systems. These innovations are expected to improve the use of AI technology to support researchers themselves and as systems that can be studied through engineering research.
By integrating AI as a collaborative or teaming technology, CU-CHAI seeks to push the boundaries of engineering sciences, enabling breakthroughs that address societal challenges like sustainable infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. To achieve this mission, CU-CHAI focuses on interdisciplinary research that combines AI advancements with domain-specific expertise in engineering. By partnering with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government agencies, CU-CHAI works to align AI integration with the evolving needs of the engineering field.
Through these efforts, CU-CHAI ensures that AI will not only enhance engineering capabilities but also accelerate progress in building a smarter, more resilient, and sustainable world.
Improving the Health and Lives of Individuals with AI Technologies
CU-CHAI focuses on leveraging AI to address critical challenges in healthcare, wellness, and quality of life. Our aim is to develop innovative AI systems that empower individuals and healthcare providers with interactive, collaborative and teaming AI to help in early detection, accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment, and ongoing health management. These systems are designed to enhance decision-making, improve patient outcomes, and ensure equitable access to high-quality care across diverse populations. By human expertise can interact, collaborate, and team with AI, CU-CHAI strives to create solutions that prioritize health, empathy, and the dignity of patients, making healthcare more effective and accessible. To achieve this mission, we combine advancements in AI design, biological decision-making, and human-computer interaction to design user-friendly AI applications tailored to individual health needs. By fostering partnerships and innovation with AI researchers, healthcare researchers, and healthcare practitioners, CU-CHAI will leverage and research AI to not only transform healthcare delivery but also enhance the daily lives and overall well-being of individuals worldwide.
Improving Education for and With AI Technology
CU-CHAI also focuses on improving education with AI technology, transforming the way students and educators interact with AI to enhance learning outcomes and teaching methodologies. Our aim is to develop AI systems that act as collaborative learning partners, adapting to individual learners' needs, providing personalized instruction, and assisting educators in classroom management. This research and design foster engagement, critical thinking, and lifelong learning by offering tailored educational content and real-time feedback. By integrating AI as a supportive tool and teammate in education, we seek to bridge achievement gaps and promote broader access to quality education across various learning environments. To achieve this, CU-CHAI emphasizes interdisciplinary research that combines AI, cognitive science, and pedagogy to create innovative learning tools and platforms, such as intelligent tutoring systems, adaptive learning environments, and AI-driven analytics for tracking student progress and behavior. Through these efforts, we envision a future where AI enhances the learning experience, supports educators, and prepares individuals to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.
