Northwestern Engineering

Would you trust an AI heath tool if you didn't understand how it works?

As predictive health tools become more accurate and personalized, much less is known about what people expect from these systems or what they need to confidently use them. Computer science PhD student Mara Ulloa, alongside Professors Maia Jacobs and Nabil Alshurafa, addressed this gap, working directly with pregnant people to understand how they envision interacting with future AI-powered stress management tools.

The study found that participants wanted more than recommendations. They want to understand what data the tool was tracking, how it turned that data into advice, and what it was ultimately trying to help them achieve. They also wanted a way to talk back — to tell the system "I couldn't do this" versus "I chose not to," so it wouldn't misinterpret their choices.

Moving from co-design to implementation, the research team is now building a functional mobile application prototype that incorporates the study participants' design requirements.

Learn more about the research: http://spr.ly/6185BEbIw5

Nelson Gonzalez knows the best technology solves real problems.

Gonzalez now leads enterprise generative AI and agent initiatives at Google, helping organizations use AI to work smarter, innovate faster, and navigate change. Along the way, he’s helped launch major AI platforms and products used by businesses around the world.

http://spr.ly/6182BEHpzy

Alan Lund (PhD ’02) once spent his days analyzing metals under a microscope. Today, he’s helping produce the magnets that power electric vehicles, robotics, and more. After founding multiple companies, he now leads magnetics work at MP Materials—focused on building a stronger US supply chain for these essential components.

http://spr.ly/6183BDcxXU