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Roderick Tabalba PhD Research Proposal Defense

Announcing Roderick Tabalba's PhD proposal defense When: December 7th at 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM Where: Keller 102 Enhancing Data Exploration Through Naturalistic AI: A Pragmatic Approach Abstract: The past decade has witnessed a surge in interest in Natural Language Interfaces (NLIs), fueled by significant advancements in computing capabilities and the emergence of powerful natural language models like BERT, LLAMA, GPT, and ChatGPT. These NLIs, equipped with agents capable of processing both voice and text inputs, have greatly simplified user tasks. However, a notable gap remains in their ability to emulate genuinely natural human interaction. Current systems often require users to initiate interaction with specific wake words such as “Alexa” or “Hey Siri,” leading to somewhat artificial exchanges. In my research, I propose to push the boundaries of NLI technology to create interfaces that more closely mirror natural human interaction. This involves developing an interface that eliminates the need for wake words, understands continuous conversation, and engages spontaneously, akin to human interaction. To accomplish this, I am drawing upon principles from Pragmatics—a branch of Linguistics—and the Psychology of spontaneous thought, which are both integral to comprehending human behavior. My project focuses on the development and refinement of an NLI named Articulate+, designed to actively listen to and spontaneously engage in ongoing conversations as naturally as a human participant. Articulate+ aims to bring a more intuitive and seamless interaction experience. Its effectiveness will be assessed through its application as an NLI for data visualization. This evaluation will explore critical questions like the optimal moments for AI to take a more proactive role in generating visualizations and how users react to these advancements. This research not only contributes to enhancing the user experience in NLIs but also broadens our understanding of the intersection between artificial intelligence and human-like interaction.

Event Sponsor
Computer Science, Mānoa Campus

More Information
roderick S tabalba, 8086515942, tabalbar@hawaii.edu