Conversational AI often replaces human thinking—a process known as cognitive offloading. While efficient, this risks eroding our mind.
We propose a shift to Cognitive Augmentation: designing Conversational AI that scaffolds human thinking to foster learning, agency, and long-term personal growth.
Reading academic papers requires an active critical thinking process. Most existing reading augmentation tools focus on efficiency, risking cognitive offloading. This demonstration presents features that foster critical thinking over AI reliance, using multiple AI agents to scaffold rather than replace the reader's own reasoning.
View PDF ↗A qualitative study examining how chatbot roles (expert, coach, partner, influencer) shape users' responses to health advice. Findings show users in health contexts actively monitored, cross-checked, and evaluated recommendations independently, suggesting health AI may support rather than replace decision-making.
View PDF ↗ContextGolem explores structured, multi-layered AI context to support higher-order functions such as reflective coaching, goal alignment, and critical self-evaluation. Configurable skill architectures adapt to different contexts and roles, keeping the human in control while enabling progressively more relevant cognitive support.
PendingDescription pending
PendingWe invite submissions that identify a core problem or propose a solution related to the risks of cognitive offloading in conversational AI.
• Dependency and reduced self-reflection
• Erosion of critical thinking
• Over-automation of emotional reasoning
• Design strategies for long-term growth
We welcome research, design, artistic, and practice-based contributions. Accepted contributions will be presented in short.
Dániel Szabó is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Oulu, Finland. His primary research interest is conversational human-AI interaction.
Niels van Berkel is a professor at Aalborg University, Denmark. His current projects focus on mental health and decision support.
Benjamin Tag is a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on affective computing, human factors, and ubiquitous computing.
Rune Møberg Jacobsen is a postdoc at Aalborg University, Denmark. His research focuses on AI-supported Decision-Making and Conversational Interfaces for health.
Jorge Goncalves is an associate professor at the University of Melbourne. Dr. Goncalves has organised workshops across CHI, CSCW and UbiComp conference and has a strong background in applied LLM and HCI research.
Xinrui Fang is a PhD student at the University of Tokyo, Japan. His research focuses on exploring how AI can be designed to foster human critical thinking skills and support mental well-being.
Zefan Sramek is a PhD student at the University of Tokyo, Japan. His current research is on the relationship between social media use, agency, and psychological well-being.
Koji Yatani is a professor at the University of Tokyo. Dr. Yatani has a strong background in ubiquitous computing and, more recently, on conversational AI systems especially in the context of human wellbeing. Dr. Yatani has organised several workshops in various HCI conferences and leads the Interactive Intelligent Systems Laboratory.
Aku Visuri is an Academy Fellow at the University of Oulu and has a strong background in HCI and recommendation systems.
Simo Hosio is a professor at the University of Oulu. Dr. Hosio has organised workshops at CHI, CSCW and UbiComp, and he leads the Crowd Computing research group that focuses on crowdsourcing and applied AI systems for human wellbeing.
