Wu Receives Okawa Research Grant To Improve Human-AI Collaboration

November 13, 2026

Sherry Tongshuang Wu, an assistant professor in Carnegie Mellon University's Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science, has received an Okawa Research Grant to study how artificial intelligence agents can help individuals and teams make complex decisions.

AI agents can help people plan trips, compare products and complete other tasks involving multiple choices. But users often don't know all their preferences in advance, and those preferences can change as they consider different options. Wu's research will explore how AI agents can better identify these preferences and help users understand the trade-offs involved in their decisions.

The project will develop an open-source evaluation framework that uses simulated users to test how effectively AI agents uncover preferences, present alternatives and respond to feedback. The research will also examine how agents can help teams navigate making decisions when members have competing priorities.

Wu's broader research in CMU's Human-Computer Interaction Institute focuses on human-AI collaboration, particularly how people can work effectively with imperfect AI systems. She aims to develop tools and evaluation methods that help people make informed decisions while maintaining control over the process.

The Okawa Research Grant, awarded by the Okawa Foundation for Information and Telecommunications, supports research in information and communications technology.

For more information, visit the Okawa Foundation website.

Media Inquiries: Aaron Aupperlee
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science
aaupperlee@cmu.edu ; 412-268-9068