Center for Cyber Social Dynamics Affiliated Researchers
Syed AbuMusab
Tech Ethics, Social Relationships, Philosophy of Technology
Syed Aubmusab is a fifth-year PhD student at the KU philosophy department. His current research is about large language models such as chatbots. He argues that sophisticated chatbots are social agents. Further, their agency is multi-dimensional, and chatbots, as conversationalists, occupy the social dimension of agency. Social bots like chatbots are also construable as companions to older adults. The overarching project aims to establish chatbots as social agents capable of companionship to help lonely older adults. Many older adults have no other relationship available to exercise their social capacity to converse. Thus, chatbots, whether embodied, textual, or virtual, are suitable candidates to fill this social gap. In addition to his work on chatbots and social agency, he also explore the fact that we risk missing out on valuable insights from other cultures by focusing mainly on Western notions of technology ethics. Drawing on religious and cultural nuances like the "mahram" relationships, he proposes that carebots are a good solution for Muslims who avoid care homes due to religious constraints. His dissertation results from collaborations between psychologists, computer scientists, and philosophers.
Travis Loof
AI and Crisis Operations, Trust, and Communications
Travis Loof, Ph.D., is a leading research scholar recognized for his expertise in translating research into operational solutions for government agencies and stakeholders. Loof is a social and communication scientist specializing in media psychology, human-AI interaction, and crisis communication. Currently research faculty at The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, he is also affiliated with the Alabama Water Institute, the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), and NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction . His recent research examines the effectiveness of AI in crisis communication and the dynamics of human-AI teamwork. Loof is recognized for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration by connecting researchers, operators, and policymakers to design tools and strategies that directly benefit communities, translating research into practical solutions actively used by government partners like NOAA and the public they serve. He is also committed to mentoring students, encouraging them to become knowledge producers and develop transferable research skills.