Participatory AI sits at the intersection of two currents that run through much of our Lab's work. On one hand, most of us already draw on participatory methods such as co-design, community-based research, and fieldwork with marginalized groups — as a core part of how we approach HCI. On the other hand, an increasing number of lab projects engage directly with AI: how it is designed for and with everyday users, how it can be made more responsible and accountable, and what it means to build systems that reflect the values of the communities they serve. 

Bringing these two threads together, the 2026 reading group asks: what does genuine participation look like in the context of AI development? We explore themes including the politics of who gets to shape AI systems, the gap between participatory rhetoric and practice, power and agency in AI design processes, and the conditions under which participatory approaches can move from token inclusion toward structural change.

Summer 2025
Designing for and with Underrecognized Communities

2025 reading group in a question central to critical HCI: what does it mean to do research responsibly with communities who have historically been excluded, misrepresented, or harmed by design? Across five sessions, we read through intersecting lenses — feminist design, participatory design, postcolonial and indigenous perspectives, and the politics of technology — to examine how power operates in research relationships, whose knowledge counts, and what methodological commitments are required when working at the margins. Rather than treating underserved communities as subjects of study, the readings collectively push toward a more reciprocal and accountable research practice.