Research | Fanjue Liu 刘璠珏

1. HCI and HMC: Mutual Shaping Between AI and Humans

The first line of my research investigates how individuals perceive AI technologies as communicative entities and the influence of these perceptions on their interactions with AI.
Whether it is socially oriented interactions with embodied AI like social robots or interactions with disembodied AI such as voice assistants and virtual tutors, my research seek to understand the mutual shaping of relations between humans and AI, and to uncover the shared attributes and unique aspects of human-AI interactions across diverse contexts.

My second line of research delves into the transformative effects of virtual influencers. I utilize an interdisciplinary approach that integrates perspectives from HCI, influencer marketing, and social psychology to decipher the mechanisms underlying virtual influencers’ impact and to identify boundary conditions that can improve their effectiveness, making them comparable to or even more effective than human influencers.
I am also captivated by the process of how virtual influencers’ identities are shaped, as well as the behind-the-scenes human intervention, that infuses life into their digital personas. I seek to understand the unique forms of autonomy, authenticity, accountability, and relationships that virtual influencers introduce to the marketing paradigm.

My third research line focuses on public perceptions and communication processes about artificial intelligence. I seek to reveal the multilayered communication processes that drive civic engagement and shape attitudes toward participatory democracy in the context of AI.
Central to my investigation is the role of AI news consumption in cultivating public support for AI policies and regulations. My work aims to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the impact of AI on societal engagement and democratic participation, highlighting the pivotal role of communication in shaping public consensus on AI policy and regulation.