Anna Kawakami

Anna Kawakami is a fifth-year PhD candidate at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on research in human-computer interaction, responsible AI, and augmented intelligence. Her work aims to design technologies and policies that foster a positive AI-driven future for complex social work, with a particular emphasis on fields involving emotion and care labor, such as social work, K-12 teaching, and home healthcare. Anna's research adopts a socio-ecological approach, comprehensively analyzing the challenges of AI design and deployment, from worker practices and organizational policies to systemic issues, and devising technological and organizational interventions to address these challenges. Her findings have been widely published at top academic conferences (e.g., CHI, CSCW, DIS) and in responsible AI-related fields, earning two Best Paper Awards. Furthermore, her research has significantly influenced national and state-level policies in the U.S. and sparked public dialogue through media coverage.

• 2023·Microsoft Research FATE (New York)·Research Intern
  • Conducted research on responsible AI and the future of work.
• 2022·Microsoft Research FATE (Montreal)·Research Intern
  • Focused on research in responsible AI.
• During Undergraduate Studies | Microsoft Research Aether | Research Intern
  • Contributed to research on AI ethics and engineering impacts.
• During Undergraduate Studies | University of Oxford Centre for Technology and Global Affairs | Research Intern
  • Conducted research in computational social science.

• 2018–Present·Carnegie Mellon University·PhD Candidate
  • Field: Human-Computer Interaction
• During Undergraduate Studies | Wellesley College | Bachelor’s Degree (Honors)
  • Field: Computer Science
  • Honors: Trustee Scholar Award and Academic Excellence Award