NEU 590 / DS 595/ CS 525: Special Topics
Human-AI Interaction: Thinking with AI

Course Syllabus

Course:	Human-AI Interaction: Thinking with AI Spring 2026
Location:	Innovation Studio 205
	Tuesdays 6-8:50 PM

Professor:	Erin Solovey
Email:	esolovey @ wpi.edu
Office:	Fuller Laboratory 232
Office Hours:	Posted on website

Overview

This course explores the rapidly evolving field of Human‑AI Interaction, with an emphasis on how people think with, through, and alongside intelligent systems. We will examine the intersection of human‑computer interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence (AI), and cognitive neuroscience, focusing on how to design and evaluate AI systems that align with human goals, values, and cognitive processes.

Coursework will involve reading and critiquing research papers each week, as well as leading 1–3 discussions of research papers. Students will also write a general‑audience blog post about a research paper. There will be a required project that you will work on over the term, and the scope and focus of the project will vary depending on the interests and backgrounds of the students in the class.

Goals and Objectives

This course aims for students to (1) obtain the background necessary to conduct research in human‑AI interaction and human‑computer interaction; (2) understand the literature in the field of human‑AI interaction research; (3) understand the steps required to design, build, and evaluate human‑centered AI systems; (4) understand the domains and contexts in which human‑AI systems may be effective; (5) understand the open questions and challenges in human‑AI interaction research today; (6) develop and practice research skills such as writing a technical paper, critically reading research papers, leading class discussions, writing a general‑audience article, and giving technical presentations.

Classes

Classes will consist of student presentations and discussions on recent research on human-AI interaction and human-computer interaction on various topics, including:

introduction to human‑AI interaction and human-computer interaction
human‑centered design principles for AI systems
mental models, cognition, and attention in human‑AI interaction
machine learning fundamentals relevant to interactive systems
prompt engineering and interaction design for large language models (LLMs)
explainability, transparency, trust, and safety
ethics and alignment in human‑AI systems
conversational agents and mixed‑initiative interaction
multimodal and affective interfaces
neuroadaptive systems and cognitively‑inspired AI
evaluation methods for human‑AI interaction
applications of intelligent systems in education, decision‑making, creativity support, accessibility, and collaborative work
experimental designs for exploring human-AI interaction
human values, ethics, privacy as it relates to human-AI interaction

Attendance for class meetings is expected. Much of the coursework happens in class. It is your responsibility to stay up-to-date on course materials. School closings (e.g. snow days, etc.) are posted on the WPI home page. You do not need to notify the or professor of your absence. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to be fully caught up by the next class meeting.

Readings

There is no required textbook for this course; We will mainly be reading recent research articles.

Assignments

Assignments will focus on skills needed to conduct research in human-AI interaction and human-computer interaction. Each week, there will be 2-4 assigned papers to read. It is expected that students will read the papers and be prepared to discuss in class. We will also use the discussion board in Canvas to reflect on the papers prior to coming to class. In addition, students will lead the discussion of 2-4 papers throughout the semester and write general audience blog posts about research papers.

Project

You'll be choosing a research project and writing a term paper. I will describe this process in more detail, and how to go about finding a project.

Exams & Quizzes

There will be no exams or quizzes.

Grading

All aspects of this course are important for developing an understanding of and appreciation for human-AI interaction. The grading breakdown will be as follows:

Project (40%): You'll be choosing a research project and writing a term paper. I will describe this process in more detail, and how to go about finding a project.
Class Participation (10%): This involves posting responses weekly in the online discussion boards associated with the assigned readings/presentations, and coming prepared to discuss in class. Some examples of appropriate discussion comments include: a question you had about the assigned content, something important you did not understand, an idea inspired by the article, an interesting connection with something you learned or did previously in this or another course, or in other professional work or research, an on-topic, relevant response, clarification, or further comment on another student's post.
Assignments (25%): This will include writing general audience blog posts about research papers, as well as research paper critiques. This also will include any in-class assignments that we do, some of which will be finished as homework.
Paper Presentations (25%): The individual class presentations allow each student both to study a special topic in more detail and to practice oral presentation skills to the rest of the class. Each student gives a short talk, tying together several papers into a broader class theme, and then leads a class discussion on that paper. We will have around two presentations per week, and the dates will be posted in a sign up sheet.

All aspects of this course are important for developing an understanding of and appreciation for human-AI interaction.

The following final grades are possible: A, B, C, D, F.

If there is a numerical error when computing your final grade from raw scores, please email and we will fix the numerical error.

Late Work

Assignments are expected to be submitted by the posted deadline. Work submitted late without prior arrangement will be penalized at 10% of the total possible points per calendar day past the deadline.

If you anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline due to illness, personal emergency, or other exceptional circumstances, contact the instructor before the due date whenever possible to discuss alternative arrangements. Extensions are granted at the instructor’s discretion and typically require a clear plan for completion.

Technical issues (e.g., file corruption, last-minute network problems) are not generally accepted as reasons for waiving late penalties—plan ahead and back up your work.

Academic Integrity

You are expected to be familiar with WPI's expectations regarding academic integrity. Please review WPI's information page. Consequences for violating the Academic Honest Policy range from earning a zero on the assignment, failing the course, or being suspended or expelled from WPI. Common examples of violations include:

Copying another student's academic work or using unauthorized materials or sources of information
Assisting in any act of academic dishonesty of another student
Misrepresenting the work of another as one's own
Inaccurately or inadequately citing sources

Inclusivity & Professional Conduct

This course values and relies on diversity of perspectives, experiences, and disciplines. Effective human–computer interaction design depends on engaging with varied viewpoints and respecting the lived experiences of others.

All members of the class are expected to:

Engage respectfully in discussions and critiques, even when viewpoints differ.
Listen actively and ensure all voices have the opportunity to be heard.
Contribute constructively to group work, honoring deadlines and shared responsibilities.
Uphold professional standards in communication—both verbal and written—and in how you represent your work.
Consider inclusivity in your designs, proactively addressing accessibility, cultural context, and ethical implications.

We will work to create a learning environment where every student feels welcome to contribute. If at any point you experience or witness behavior that undermines this environment, please reach out to the instructor.

Communication

The instructor will disseminate important announcements through Canvas. Also, Canvas contains a timeline with links to all information (lecture slides, assignments, etc.) relevant to the course.

Generative AI Usage Policy (adapted from Prof. Gillian Smith)

I want this to be a class where we can come to a greater understanding of what generative AI systems mean for our discipline. We can learn together about what works, what doesn't, and how it's going to impact your creative and/or research processes. We will also discuss inherent biases in generative AI systems in class, and what that means for usage both in class and in our larger professional context.

To support these goals, I request the following:

If you decide to use generative AI in a project or assignment, please disclose how you have used it in a supplemental document that you upload with your submission. At a minimum, I want to know: which tool(s) you used and for what, what you perceive as the pros and cons of having used it, how you incorporated generative AI into your process, and whether there remains text/code/art/music generated by the system in your final product.
If you use a generative AI system and do not understand its output (e.g. it creates code or written language you do not understand), please make your best attempt at understanding it. You can always bring it to me or the class with questions.
Generative AI usage should be supplemental to your own work. Do: feel free to experiment with it for brainstorming, use it to embellish work you have done, or significantly modify its output (with disclosure!). Don't: give an assignment prompt as input and paste the output as your submission.
Using generative AI is absolutely not mandatory or expected. If you prefer to avoid these tools, for whatever reason, that's okay!

This course, as with all professional interactions, operates on trust and integrity. You can trust me to give feedback on your work, to structure policies like this to support your learning as best I can, and to give my honest opinion on your usage of AI in whatever circumstance you choose. I trust you not to pass off generated content as your own, and overall to act with integrity and the intent to further your learning if you choose to experiment with generative AI systems.

Writing Center

Would you like feedback on a paper that you're writing--or even a presentation or poster that you're creating? The Writing Center is here for you! Located in Salisbury Labs 233, the Writing Center offers free one-on-one consultations (in-person and over Zoom) to help you improve your communication skills. Tutors will read/listen to your work, give you feedback about your composition's strengths and weaknesses, and help you (and your team) chart a path forward as you revise. And since tutors are WPI students themselves, you can count on a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Consultations are open to all WPI students, undergraduate and graduate, for all classes and projects (even projects you're doing outside of class), and tutors will happily work with you at any stage of your process—early brainstorming, revising a draft, polishing a final draft. To see appointment options for both in-person and Zoom meetings, go to wpi.mywconline.com, or learn more about our services by visiting our homepage: wpi.edu/+writing

Office of Accessibility

Students with approved academic accommodations should plan to submit their accommodation letters through the Office of Accessibility Services Student Portal. Should you have any questions about how accommodations can be implemented in this particular course, please contact me as soon as possible. Students who are not currently registered with the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) but who would like to find out more information about requesting accommodations, documentation guidelines, and what the accommodated interactive process entails should plan to contact OAS either by email: AccessibilityServices@wpi.edu, by phone (508) 831-4908, or by stopping by the office on the 5th floor of Unity Hall.

Student Development and Counseling Center (SDCC)

If you're feeling down and need guidance, support, or just someone to talk to, I encourage you to contact the SDCC to set up an appointment for individual or group counseling. The services of the SDCC are always free and confidential. You can call 508-831-5540 to arrange a same-day appointment starting at 8:30 AM each day when WPI classes are in session. For more information, see the SDCC website.

NEU 590 / DS 595/ CS 525: Special Topics Human-AI Interaction: Thinking with AI