My research group:

Overarching Research Themes

*Extracted by GPT-4, there may be inconsistencies.* #### *Ethics and Cultural Sensitivity in AI* My research group explores the importance of ethical considerations and cultural sensitivity in the development of AI systems. A key paper, [Out of Style: RAG's Fragility to Linguistic Variation](https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.08231), highlights how linguistic variation can impact the robustness of AI models. Additionally, we investigate biases against specific dialects in AI systems, as shown in [Disparities in LLM Reasoning Accuracy and Explanations: A Case Study on African American English](https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.04099). The study of non-verbal cues and their cultural implications is also paramount, exemplified by [Mind the Gesture: Evaluating AI Sensitivity to Culturally Offensive Non-Verbal Gestures](https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.17710). #### *Narrative Flow and Empathy* My research group explores the dynamics of narrative structures and their impact on empathy. We delve into how narratives are shaped and perceived, as discussed in the paper [Quantifying the narrative flow of imagined versus autobiographical stories](https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2211715119). We also analyze emotional resonance in storytelling with [HEART-felt Narratives: Tracing Empathy and Narrative Style in Personal Stories with LLMs](https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.17633), which investigates the narrative techniques that foster empathy in audiences. Furthermore, the paper [Modeling Empathic Similarity in Personal Narratives](https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.14246) adds depth to our understanding of how empathy influences narrative engagement. #### *Social Intelligence in AI Agents* My research group explores the development of AI agents that demonstrate social intelligence and can appropriately engage in social interactions. Important findings are presented in the paper [SOTOPIA: Interactive Evaluation for Social Intelligence in Language Agents](https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.11667), which assesses how AI systems can be evaluated for their social capabilities. We also investigate the limitations of social reasoning in AI through [Clever Hans or Neural Theory of Mind? Stress Testing Social Reasoning in Large Language Models](https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.14763), highlighting the need for improved understanding and training of AI models. Additionally, our framework for large-scale social simulations is detailed in [SOTOPIA-S4: A User-Friendly System for Flexible, Customizable, and Large-Scale Social Simulation](https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.13069). #### *Multilingual Moderation and Safety* My research group explores the challenges and strategies involved in creating effective moderation and safety tools for AI, particularly in diverse linguistic contexts. An innovative approach is detailed in [PolyGuard: A Multilingual Safety Moderation Tool for 17 Languages](https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.04377), which aims to enhance the capability of AI systems to understand and moderate language across different cultures. We also examine how neural networks can generate harmful content, as demonstrated in [PolygloToxicityPrompts: Multilingual Evaluation of Neural Toxic Degeneration in Large Language Models](https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.09373), focusing on the implications of toxicity in AI outputs. Additionally, the insights provided by [Counterspeakers’ Perspectives: Unveiling Barriers and AI Needs in the Fight against Online Hate](https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.00179) shed light on societal perceptions and the challenges posed by AI technologies.