Qing Xiao

Hi! I’m Qing Xiao, a PhD student at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). My research focuses on how individuals and organizations develop and adopt emerging technologies—such as AI, large language models, algorithmic systems, and robotics—and the key factors that shape these practices. I aim to ensure Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics (FATE) throughout the entire lifecycle of technology development and adoption.

In addition to investigating these processes, I design user-centered systems that make emerging technologies more accessible and intuitive, enabling users to seamlessly integrate them into their daily practices and unlock their full potential. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge innovation and real-world application, I strive to ensure these advancements empower users and enhance their capabilities, rather than create barriers.

Occasionally, I explore speculative and critical design to challenge conventional narratives of technology acceptance, employing mediums such as visual arts, textiles, and tangible artifacts to provoke reflection and reimagine alternative futures. Drawing on critical theory, I aim to expose how power, control, and exclusion are embedded in technological systems, while design theory allows me to reconfigure these dynamics—enabling more inclusive, equitable, and human-centered imaginaries of technology’s role in society.

Before joining CMU, I earned my MSc from the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford and a BA in Communication with a minor in Human-Centered Design from the Communication University of China (CUC). I also participated in the CUC-Missouri BA joint program, receiving training from the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I previously worked as a journalist and research fellow for several news organizations, such as the Financial Times.  A fun fact is that I also served as the core director for two well-known TV programs in China and as an video editor for several documentaries in the famous China Science Communication series (Kepu Zhongguo).