Prof. Justine Cassell

Professor Justine Cassell is a researcher, public speaker and consultant on the social nature of our interaction with AI and natural language technology, and implements technologies that collaborate rather than replace, and that inspire trust over the long term. Her work has a special focus on conversational technologies, technologies to improve education – particularly for marginalized populations – and the interaction between gender and technology.

Her broad interdisciplinary background, including university degrees in Literature, Linguistics, and Psychology, as well as 30 years of experience in Computer Science, allows her to conduct innovative research and uncover novel insights into how to ensure that we bring about a future where digital technology amplifies our best selves.

Advisor to regional and national government policy makers around the world, including in China, France and the Obama White House. Founding chair of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Council on AI and Robotics, and WEF Council on the Future of Computing. She is currently Dean’s Professor of Language Technologies at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), as well as Emerita Director of Human-Computer Interaction, Emerita Associate Dean of Technology Strategy and Impact, and a founding co-director of the CMU Simon Initiative on Technology-Enhanced Learning. Cassell formerly held tenured positions at Northwestern and MIT.

Cassell is currently on leave from CMU to hold the founding international chair at PRAIRIE Paris Institute on Interdisciplinary Research in AI (one of President Macron’s four new AI Institutes), and a position as Directrice de Recherche at Inria Paris.