Georgia Tech researchers played a key role in the development of a groundbreaking AI framework designed to autonomously generate and evaluate scientific hypotheses in the field of astrobiology. Amirali Aghazadeh, assistant professor in the school of electrical and computer engineering, co-authored the research and contributed to the architecture that divides tasks among multiple specialized AI agents. 

This framework, known as the AstroAgents system, is a modular approach which allows the system to simulate a collaborative team of scientists, each with distinct roles such as data analysis, planning, and critique, thereby enhancing the depth and originality of the hypotheses generated

Read the full article by Nature

Imagine a future where robotic guide dogs lead the visually impaired, flying cars navigate the skies, and electric self-driving vehicles communicate effortlessly with pedestrians.

That future is being shaped today at Georgia Tech’s Center for Human-AI-Robot Teaming (CHART). Led by Bruce Walker, a professor in the School of Psychology and the School of Interactive Computing, the newly launched Center aims to transform how humans, artificial intelligence, and robots work together. By focusing on the dynamic partnership between humans and intelligent systems, CHART will explore how humans can collaborate more effectively with artificial intelligence systems and robots to solve critical scientific and societal challenges.

“There are wonderful Georgia Tech units like the Institute for People and Technology and the Institute for Robotics and Machines  that do an incredible job focusing on using and creating intelligent systems and technology,” says Walker. “CHART adds value to this ecosystem with our emphasis on the interactive partnership between humans, AI technology, and robots and machines with agency.”

Based in the School of Psychology, CHART has built an international and interdisciplinary consortium of researchers and innovators from academia and industry. Its impressive membership includes researchers from five Georgia Tech colleges, 18 universities worldwide, industry, public policy organizations, cities, and NASA.

“With expertise encompassing psychology, design, interactive computing, robotics, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, public policy, and business, CHART leverages a wealth of knowledge to help us tackle multifaceted challenges — and we’re adding new members every week,” says Walker.

To help shepherd this growth, CHART’s Steering Committee includes School of Psychology Professor Christopher Wiese and Assistant Professor Mengyao Li and School of Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Ye Zhao.

Tomorrow’s technology

Several research programs already underway at CHART showcase its vision of deeply transformative, human-centered research:

Robotic guide dogs

Walker co-leads this research with Sehoon Ha, an assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing. The project explores the partnership between a robotic guide dog robot and a human as they navigate the physical and social environment. Key concerns include trust, communication, sharing of responsibilities, and how the human-robot team integrates into social settings. The project also addresses practical design issues like ensuring the robot operates quietly to avoid interfering with auditory cues critical for blind users.

Flying cars

This project investigates how humans will interact with emerging flying vehicle technologies. It explores user interfaces, control systems, and human-machine interaction design, including whether traditional steering controls might evolve into joystick-like mechanisms. Broader issues include how flying cars will fit into current infrastructure, impacts on pilot licensing policy and regulation, and the psychology of adopting futuristic technologies.

Pedestrians and self-driving cars

Researchers are exploring how driverless electric vehicles and pedestrians can communicate to keep our future streets safe, including how vehicles signal their intentions to pedestrians. Teams are also implications for safety and public policy, including accident liability and the quiet nature of electric vehicles.

Generative AI in Education

This project examines how students use generative AI like ChatGPT as collaborators in learning. The research explores its effects on outcomes, education policy, and curriculum development.

Meet CHART Founding Director Bruce Walker

Walker is excited about CHART’s future and its role in improving the world.

“We’ve got an ambitious plan and with the caliber of researchers we have assembled from around the world, the possibilities are limitless,” says Walker. “I see Georgia Tech leading the way as a center of gravity in this space.”

His background renders him well-suited to the interdisciplinary nature of the Center. Walker brings a wealth of experience in psychology, human-computer interaction, and related fields, with research interests spanning sonification and auditory displays, trust in automation, technology adoption, human-AI-robot teaming, and assistive technologies. In addition to CHART, he's the director of the Georgia Tech Sonification Lab.

Walker’s academic research has resulted in more than 250 journal articles and proceedings, and he has consulted for NASA, state and federal governments, private companies, and the military. He is also an active entrepreneur, founding startups and working on projects related to COVID diagnosis, skin cancer detection, mental health monitoring, gun safety, and digital scent technology. 

Reflecting on the journey ahead, Walker says, “We’ve come out of the gate strong. I look forward to the innovations ahead and continuing to cultivate a community of future leaders in this field.”

A Georgia Tech doctoral student’s dissertation could help physicians diagnose neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease. The new approach leverages data science and algorithms instead of relying on traditional methods like cognitive tests and image scans.

Ph.D. candidate Md Abdur Rahaman’s dissertation studies brain data to understand how changes in brain activity shape behavior. 

Computational tools Rahaman developed for his dissertation look for informative patterns between the brain and behavior. Successful tests of his algorithms show promise to help doctors diagnose mental health disorders and design individualized treatment plans for patients.

“I've always been fascinated by the human brain and how it defines who we are,” Rahaman said. 

“The fact that so many people silently suffer from neuropsychiatric disorders, while our understanding of the brain remains limited, inspired me to develop tools that bring greater clarity to this complexity and offer hope through more compassionate, data-driven care.”

Rahaman’s dissertation introduces a framework focusing on granular factoring. This computing technique stratifies brain data into smaller, localized subgroups, making it easier for computers and researchers to study data and find meaningful patterns.

Granular factoring overcomes the challenges of size and heterogeneity in neurological data science. Brain data is obtained from neuroimaging, genomics, behavioral datasets, and other sources. The large size of each source makes it a challenge to study them individually, let alone analyze them simultaneously, to find hidden inferences. 

Rahaman’s research allows researchers and physicians to move past one-size-fits-all approaches. Instead of manually reviewing tests and scans, algorithms look for patterns and biomarkers in the subgroups that otherwise go undetected, especially ones that indicate neuropsychiatric disorders.

“My dissertation advances the frontiers of computational neuroscience by introducing scalable and interpretable models that navigate brain heterogeneity to reveal how neural dynamics shape behavior,” Rahaman said. 

“By uncovering subgroup-specific patterns, this work opens new directions for understanding brain function and enables more precise, personalized approaches to mental health care.”

Rahaman defended his dissertation on April 14, the final step in completing his Ph.D. in computational science and engineering. He will graduate on May 1 at Georgia Tech’s Ph.D. Commencement. 

After walking across the stage at McCamish Pavilion, Rahaman’s next step in his career is to go to Amazon, where he will work in the generative artificial intelligence (AI) field. 

Graduating from Georgia Tech is the summit of an educational trek spanning over a decade. Rahaman hails from Bangladesh where he graduated from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology in 2013. He attained his master’s from the University of New Mexico in 2019 before starting at Georgia Tech. 

“Munna is an amazingly creative researcher,” said Vince Calhoun, Rahman’s advisor. Calhoun is the founding director of the Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science Center (TReNDS).

TReNDS is a tri-institutional center spanning Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, and Emory University that develops analytic approaches and neuroinformatic tools. The center aims to translate the approaches into biomarkers that address areas of brain health and disease.    

“His work is moving the needle in our ability to leverage multiple sources of complex biological data to improve understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders that have a huge impact on an individual’s livelihood,” said Calhoun.

A Georgia Tech alum’s dissertation introduced ways to make artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible, interpretable, and accountable. Although it’s been a year since his doctoral defense, Zijie (Jay) Wang’s (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) work continues to resonate with researchers.

Wang is a recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI). The award recognizes Wang for his lifelong work on democratizing human-centered AI.

“Throughout my Ph.D. and industry internships, I observed a gap in existing research: there is a strong need for practical tools for applying human-centered approaches when designing AI systems,” said Wang, now a safety researcher at OpenAI.

“My work not only helps people understand AI and guide its behavior but also provides user-friendly tools that fit into existing workflows.”

[Related: Georgia Tech College of Computing Swarms to Yokohama, Japan, for CHI 2025]

Wang’s dissertation presented techniques in visual explanation and interactive guidance to align AI models with user knowledge and values. The work culminated from years of research, fellowship support, and internships.

Wang’s most influential projects formed the core of his dissertation. These included:

• CNN Explainer: an open-source tool developed for deep-learning beginners. Since its release in July 2020, more than 436,000 global visitors have used the tool.
• DiffusionDB: a first-of-its-kind large-scale dataset that lays a foundation to help people better understand generative AI. This work could lead to new research in detecting deepfakes and designing human-AI interaction tools to help people more easily use these models.
• GAM Changer: an interface that empowers users in healthcare, finance, or other domains to edit ML models to include knowledge and values specific to their domain, which improves reliability.
• GAM Coach: an interactive ML tool that could help people who have been rejected for a loan by automatically letting an applicant know what is needed for them to receive loan approval.
• Farsight: a tool that alerts developers when they write prompts in large language models that could be harmful and misused.  

“I feel extremely honored and lucky to receive this award, and I am deeply grateful to many who have supported me along the way, including Polo, mentors, collaborators, and friends,” said Wang, who was advised by School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Professor Polo Chau.

“This recognition also inspired me to continue striving to design and develop easy-to-use tools that help everyone to easily interact with AI systems.”

Like Wang, Chau advised Georgia Tech alumnus Fred Hohman (Ph.D. CSE 2020). Hohman won the ACM SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2022.

Chau’s group synthesizes machine learning (ML) and visualization techniques into scalable, interactive, and trustworthy tools. These tools increase understanding and interaction with large-scale data and ML models. 

Chau is the associate director of corporate relations for the Machine Learning Center at Georgia Tech. Wang called the School of CSE his home unit while a student in the ML program under Chau.

Wang is one of five recipients of this year’s award to be presented at the 2025 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025). The conference occurs April 25-May 1 in Yokohama, Japan. 

SIGCHI is the world’s largest association of human-computer interaction professionals and practitioners. The group sponsors or co-sponsors 26 conferences, including CHI.

Wang’s outstanding dissertation award is the latest recognition of a career decorated with achievement.

Months after graduating from Georgia Tech, Forbes named Wang to its 30 Under 30 in Science for 2025 for his dissertation. Wang was one of 15 Yellow Jackets included in nine different 30 Under 30 lists and the only Georgia Tech-affiliated individual on the 30 Under 30 in Science list.

While a Georgia Tech student, Wang earned recognition from big names in business and technology. He received the Apple Scholars in AI/ML Ph.D. Fellowship in 2023 and was in the 2022 cohort of the J.P. Morgan AI Ph.D. Fellowships Program.

Along with the CHI award, Wang’s dissertation earned him awards this year at banquets across campus. The Georgia Tech chapter of Sigma Xi presented Wang with the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award. He also received the College of Computing’s Outstanding Dissertation Award.

“Georgia Tech attracts many great minds, and I’m glad that some, like Jay, chose to join our group,” Chau said. “It has been a joy to work alongside them and witness the many wonderful things they have accomplished, and with many more to come in their careers.”

About Tech AI
Tech AI is Georgia Tech's hub for artificial intelligence research, education, and responsible deployment. With over $120 million in active AI research funding, including more than $60 million in NSF support for five AI Research Institutes, Tech AI drives innovation through cutting-edge research, industry partnerships, and real-world applications. With over 370 papers published at top AI conferences and workshops, Tech AI is a leader in advancing AI-driven engineering, mobility, and enterprise solutions. Through strategic collaborations, Tech AI bridges the gap between AI research and industry, optimizing supply chains, enhancing cybersecurity, advancing autonomous systems, and transforming healthcare and manufacturing. Committed to workforce development, Tech AI provides AI education across all levels, from K-12 outreach to undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as specialized certifications. These initiatives equip students with hands-on experience, industry exposure, and the technical expertise needed to lead in AI-driven industries. Bringing AI to the world through innovation, collaboration, and partnerships. Visit tech.ai.gatech.edu.

March 20, 2025 – Tech AI, the AI hub at Georgia Tech, will host Tech AI Fest 2025 from March 26 to 28 at the Historic Academy of Medicine in Atlanta. This major AI event will bring together experts, researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and students to explore the latest advancements and applications of artificial intelligence.

A Hub for AI Conversations

Tech AI Fest 2025 will bring together over 40 experts from top institutions and leading companies, including:

• Academic Institutions: Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University, the University of Texas at Austin, Washington State University, and Columbia University.
• Leading Companies: J.P. Morgan, NVIDIA, Juniper Networks, Microsoft, OpenAI, Bosch USA, Kinaxis, MindsDB, Verdant Technologies, and Dandelion Science Corp.

Event Highlights

• Days 1 – 2 (March 26 – 27) will focus on how AI is being used in industry, government, and research. Sessions will discuss AI's role in technological progress, economic growth, and policy development.
• Day 3 (March 28) will showcase Georgia Tech's AI projects, including groundbreaking research, student presentations, and the launch of the Tech AI Alumni Group to strengthen industry-academic connections.

Commitment to AI Progress

Tech AI Fest 2025 shows Georgia Tech's dedication to advancing AI research, fostering innovation, and building meaningful partnerships across different sectors. The event is a platform for sharing knowledge, networking, and collaboration, putting attendees at the forefront of the AI revolution.

“AI is more than just an academic pursuit; it’s a force that’s reshaping industries, redefining education, and creating solutions for some of the biggest challenges we face today,” said Pascal Van Hentenryck, the A. Russell Chandler III Chair and professor in Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, director of the NSF Artificial Intelligence Institute for Advances in Optimization (AI4OPT), and director of Tech AI.

Registration and Participation

General admission is $25, but Georgia Tech students can attend for free while seats are available. Due to high demand, registration has reached capacity. Interested individuals can join the waiting list by contacting Josh Tullis at josh@corporate.gatech.edu.

For more information, visit the official event page.

About Tech AI

Tech AI is Georgia Tech’s hub for artificial intelligence research, education, and responsible deployment. It drives real-world AI solutions through innovation, collaboration, and industry partnerships. With over $120 million in active AI research funding and more than 370 publications at top AI conferences, Tech AI is ranked No. 5 in the U.S. for AI research and leads the way in AI-driven engineering and applied research. Supported by over $60 million in National Science Foundation funding, Tech AI plays a critical role in developing the next generation of AI leaders through world-class degree programs and specialized certifications. By bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, Tech AI collaborates with industry and government partners to optimize supply chains, enhance cybersecurity, advance autonomous systems, revolutionize healthcare, improve energy efficiency, and drive sustainable manufacturing.

Men and women in California put their lives on the line when battling wildfires every year, but there is a future where machines powered by artificial intelligence are on the front lines, not firefighters.

However, this new generation of self-thinking robots would need security protocols to ensure they aren’t susceptible to hackers. To integrate such robots into society, they must come with assurances that they will behave safely around humans.

It begs the question: can you guarantee the safety of something that doesn’t exist yet? It’s something Assistant Professor Glen Chou hopes to accomplish by developing algorithms that will enable autonomous systems to learn and adapt while acting with safety and security assurances. 

He plans to launch research initiatives, in collaboration with the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, to secure this new technological frontier as it develops. 

“To operate in uncertain real-world environments, robots and other autonomous systems need to leverage and adapt a complex network of perception and control algorithms to turn sensor data into actions,” he said. “To obtain realistic assurances, we must do a joint safety and security analysis on these sensors and algorithms simultaneously, rather than one at a time.”

This end-to-end method would proactively look for flaws in the robot’s systems rather than wait for them to be exploited. This would lead to intrinsically robust robotic systems that can recover from failures.

Chou said this research will be useful in other domains, including advanced space exploration. If a space rover is sent to one of Saturn’s moons, for example, it needs to be able to act and think independently of scientists on Earth. 

Aside from fighting fires and exploring space, this technology could perform maintenance in nuclear reactors, automatically maintain the power grid, and make autonomous surgery safer. It could also bring assistive robots into the home, enabling higher standards of care. 

This is a challenging domain where safety, security, and privacy concerns are paramount due to frequent, close contact with humans.

This will start in the newly established Trustworthy Robotics Lab at Georgia Tech, which Chou directs. He and his Ph.D. students will design principled algorithms that enable general-purpose robots and autonomous systems to operate capably, safely, and securely with humans while remaining resilient to real-world failures and uncertainty.

Chou earned dual bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer sciences as well as mechanical engineering from University of California Berkeley in 2017, a master’s and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Michigan in 2019 and 2022, respectively. He was a postdoc at MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory prior to joining Georgia Tech in November 2024. He is a recipient of the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate fellowship program, NSF Graduate Research fellowships, and was named a Robotics: Science and Systems Pioneer in 2022.

Pascal Van Hentenryck, professor and chair of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech, as well as director of Tech AI and the NSF AI4OPT Institute, presented at the Georgia Department of Human Services’ Annual HR Conference, held Jan. 28-30, 2025, at the Savannah Convention Center.

Themed “Customer-Centric Culture,” the event explored how leaders and employees can harness AI for customer engagement. Key topics included: defining AI, guiding workforce adaptation to AI-driven changes, and debunking myths, emphasizing AI's role as a vital tool rather than a threat.

To learn more about the Georgia Department of Human Services, click here.

The Georgia Legislator AI Workshop took place at the Georgia State Capitol, drawing state lawmakers, academic experts, and industry leaders to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence, Jan. 28, 2025.

The event was designed to provide legislators with a comprehensive understanding of how AI is reshaping key sectors, including energy, manufacturing, education and cybersecurity. Georgia Tech’s prominent role in AI research and application was highlighted through contributions from its leading faculty and research experts.

Tim Lieuwen, interim executive vice president for Research at Georgia Tech, opened the workshop, amplifying the strategic importance of AI for Georgia’s economic development and infrastructure resilience. Pascal Van Hentenryck, director of the Tech AI Hub and the NSF AI4OPT Institute, followed with a presentation on AI advancements and their implications for the state.

A significant portion of the workshop focused on AI’s impact on energy infrastructure. Lieuwen returned to discuss how AI is enhancing energy efficiency and supporting Georgia’s transition to smarter, more resilient energy systems. This session highlighted AI’s role in driving sustainable energy solutions.

The conversation then shifted to manufacturing, with Tom Kurfess, chief manufacturing officer at Georgia Tech, detailing how AI-driven innovations are optimizing production processes and revolutionizing industry practices. His insights described a future where AI maintains Georgia’s competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.

Cybersecurity and data privacy were other focal points. Michael Barker from Georgia Tech’s Manufacturing Extension Program addressed the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI-driven cybersecurity solutions. His presentation touched on data privacy and compliance with public information regulations.

The educational landscape also took center stage as Steve Harmon from Georgia Tech’s College of Lifelong Learning explored the ways AI is reshaping learning experiences. Harmon highlighted AI’s potential to deliver personalized education and better prepare students for a rapidly evolving workforce.

Donna Ennis, interim associate vice president for community-based engagement and co-director of Georgia AIM, wrapped up the program by presenting a comprehensive overview of state and national AI resources available to foster innovation and collaboration.

This event highlighted the importance of strategic investments and informed policymaking to harness the full potential of AI for Georgia’s future.