Media & bio

Kai Lukoff is an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at Santa Clara University and director of its Human-Computer Interaction Lab. He researches and designs technologies that support human agency, with work spanning digital wellbeing, community-engaged augmented reality, and human-AI interaction.

Kai Lukoff is an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at Santa Clara University and director of its Human-Computer Interaction Lab. He researches and designs technologies that support human agency: people’s sense of control over their actions and outcomes. His work spans digital wellbeing, community-engaged augmented reality, and human-AI interaction. He studies how apps capture attention and develops ways to support intentional technology use. He co-designs augmented reality stories with the local Ohlone Native American community to bring Indigenous histories and presence into view. His AI research examines how generative AI represents people and how people retain judgment and authorship when working with AI. He also serves as Faculty Director of AI Kitchen, where he helps students from all majors gain hands-on experience with AI. He earned his PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering from the University of Washington. He received the ACM SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2023. His work has also received three CHI Best Paper Honorable Mention awards and a CHI Best Movie Award (2024).