Karrie Karahalios

Karrie Karahalios is a Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT Media Lab and leads the Social Algorithms Group. Her research focuses on AI and community-centered computing: how people interact through digital platforms and tools, and how algorithmic systems shape communities, public discourse, and everyday social dynamics. Her work addresses sociotechnical systems, algorithm auditing, human–AI dialogue, contestable systems, and online governance.

She co-authored an early paper on algorithm auditing and was a plaintiff in Sandvig v. Barr. She previously served as a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and founded or co-founded the Center for Just Infrastructures. An MIT Media Lab announcement states that she returned to MIT as a Full Professor of Media Arts and Sciences effective September 1, 2025.

• September 2025–Present·MIT Media Lab·Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
  • Researches human-centered AI, contestable systems, human–AI dialogue, and online governance.
• Previously | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Professor of Computer Science
  • Held affiliate appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Coordinated Science Laboratory, and other Illinois units, and helped establish the Center for Just Infrastructures.

• PhD completed 2004·MIT Media Lab·PhD in Media Arts and Sciences
• Degrees | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | SB in Electrical Engineering, MEng in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and SM in Media Arts and Sciences

Based on the MIT Media Lab profile and appointment announcement, Karrie Karahalios's personal homepage and Bio page, and the historical University of Illinois faculty page; verified September 23, 2026. Detailed sources and limitations are recorded in review evidence.