Human-AI Co-Creation of Visual Communication

Speaker: Dr. Yun Wang
         Microsoft Research
         Microsoft Software Technology Asia Center

Title: "Human-AI Co-Creation of Visual Communication"

Date:   Monday; 25 March 2024

Time:   4:00pm - 5:00pm

Venue:  Lecture Theater F
        (Leung Yat Sing Lecture Theater), near lift 25/26
        HKUST

Abstract:

In today's visual-centric world, mastering visual communication--such as
charts, infographics, and videos--is crucial for effectively conveying
complex ideas and information to everyone. While it required considerable
time and effort in the past, the integration of AI advancements in
creative domains presents remarkable opportunities. However, it also poses
significant challenges for human-AI co-creation tools, since crafting
high-quality visual content requires a deep understanding of content,
context, logic, and visual design principles. These demands require AI to
accurately interpret evolving human intentions and contribute effectively
to dynamic objectives in creativity workflows.

In this presentation, the speaker will highlight her contributions to
elevating human-AI co-creation of visual communication, including both the
process and the outcomes of visual communication through the synergy of
humans and AI. She will delve into the roles of novel AI technologies in
crafting expressive and informative visualizations, composing
visualizations and infographics into visual storytelling, and enhancing
these into more immersive animations. Her discussion will primarily focus
on the interaction between humans and AI within the creative process,
demonstrating how well-designed interfaces can amplify the abilities of
both humans and AI. The speaker will further explore emerging research
directions and challenges in this swiftly progressing field, underscoring
opportunities for leveraging the ongoing evolution of AI in comprehending
and aligning with the goals of human creative processes.

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Biography:

Yun Wang is a Senior Researcher in the Data, Knowledge, Intelligence (DKI)
Area at Microsoft. Her research interests lie at the intersection of
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Information Visualization (VIS),
leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence and data science. Her
work aims to facilitate human-data interaction, human-AI collaboration,
visual communication and storytelling, and natural user interfaces. She
has developed techniques and systems for creating diverse forms of visual
communication, such as infographics, interactive web pages, motion
graphics, and animated videos. She has also explored simplifying and
improving data interaction workflows between humans and AI for analysis,
ideation, authoring, and storytelling. She envisions a future where humans
and AI collaborate seamlessly in creating and communicating through visual
representations that are both captivating and richly informative. She has
published more than 40 papers in high-impact venues such as VIS, CHI,
UIST, TVCG, and CG&A. She also serves as a reviewer and on program
committees for various venues. She is a recipient of the Google Anita Borg
Scholarship and the Microsoft Spot Award. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer
Science and Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology, and a joint B.Eng. in Software Engineering and a B.Sc. in
Computer Science from Fudan University and University College Dublin.
More information can be found on her personal page
[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/people/wangyun/].