Allen School researchers are at the forefront of exciting developments in AI spanning machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, robotics and more.
We cultivate a deeper understanding of the science and potential impact of rapidly evolving technologies, such as large language models and generative AI, while developing practical tools for their ethical and responsible application in a variety of domains — from biomedical research and disaster response, to autonomous vehicles and urban planning.
Groups & Labs
Human-Centered Robotics Lab
In the Human-Centered Robotics lab we aim to develop robotics that are useful and usable for future users of task-oriented robots.
Makeability Lab
The Makeability Lab specializes in Human-Computer Interaction and applied machine learning for high-impact problems in accessibility, computational urban science, and augmented reality.
Faculty Members
Centers & Initiatives
The mission of the UW Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) is to make technology accessible and the world accessible through technology. By bringing together researchers from across the campus, CREATE harnesses the diverse expertise necessary to realize a more just and equitable technological future, one that overcomes existing barriers and ensures new ones do not arise.
MEM-C is a NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center that integrates materials innovations with theory and computation to advance spin-photonic nanostructures and elastic layered quantum materials, aided by an “AI Core” that integrates artificial intelligence-driven materials discovery.
Highlights
UW News
Smith will be the new vice provost for artificial intelligence and inaugural Charles and Lisa Simonyi Endowed Chair for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies thanks to a $10M gift from the couple to support the UW’s global leadership in AI.
Allen School News
From a robotic arm that learns to pick up new objects in real time, to a model that converts 2D videos into 3D virtual reality, to a curious chatbot that adapts to users, to machine learning methods for decoding the brain, the 2025 Research Showcase and Open House had something for everyone.
GeekWire
At the Allen School’s Research Showcase and Open House, school leaders celebrated the work of faculty and student researchers — and offered a blueprint for collaboratively tackling a set of human-centered problems for even greater impact.