Communication and Culture PhD alum is looking toward the future of human-AI interactive companion robots

Communication and Culture PhD (ComCult) and Master of Professional Communication (MPC) alumna Dr. Lauren Dwyer is taking a unique path in the world of communication studies, employing her graduate degrees to program companion robots for human interactions. As she embarked on her postgraduate journey, her career initially seemed destined for non-profit business communication. After an unexpected introduction into the realm of social robotics, she has now found herself completely immersed in human-robot communication research to help alleviate feelings of anxiety and loneliness in people.

When researching and creating a future of companion robots, fluid communication between humans and AI is crucial. Her educational experience in professional communication allows her to program a ‘brain’ within these robots giving them the ability to think, adapt and behave in ways that feel natural to humans. This lens gives her a necessary understanding of human communication and human-centered design when researching and developing socially interactive robots.

“Communication studies in particular offers a different lens through which to see the world and can approach any discipline, like psychology, engineering, and humanities. It is that wonderful piece in between that allows you to breach into all of these spaces,” she said. “My background in professional communication definitely gave me that ‘human first lens’ that I've been able to take and apply to many other areas in my research and practice.”

Navigating a Rapidly Evolving Industry

Dwyer shares that staying ahead of the curve is nearly impossible in such a rapidly evolving industry, not only as a society but as researchers as well. 

“With the way the research cycle works, it takes time to peer review work, put out a thoughtful piece, and go through the six to eight month publishing cycle,” she explains. “By the time you've actually made an effort to say something on the topic, we've moved on, we're past it.”

When new technologies emerge, a level of disruption begins to occur socially and ethically. This component of the AI industry keeps researchers focused on societal change while ensuring ethics are critically considered. Establishing a technology that has a place in this world with minimal societal disruption is the goal.

“While we might not be able to be ahead of the technology, we can position ourselves in such a way that we actually look at this from that societal lens,” Dwyer said. “From that perspective, we can decide what frameworks we need to have in place for policy, for protection of human and worker rights, that's something we can do.”

Dwyer also mentions that all technology does not advance proportionally. While AI research is expanding globally, advancements in complementary technologies are not growing at the same rates, some of which are necessary for the progression of her research.

Advice for Students

Reminiscing on her time as a student at The Creative School, Dwyer’s advice for current students is to realize the significance of their skills, no matter how big or small. From crafting columns and emails, to navigating complex situations, these skills are able to be utilized and applied to many areas.

She explains there are many possibilities to apply one's education, whether conventional or unconventional. There are numerous avenues to work across diverse fields and leverage the knowledge gained.

“Recognize that the soft skills that you learn are not soft, they are power skills,” she said. “Like any grad school program, it is what you make it, and as someone who is very aligned with tech, and very aligned with future concepts, there is a possibility to study robots from a communications perspective.”

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.