Matthew Varona

Patrick Yung Kang Lee, Jessica Y. Bo, Zixin Zhao et al.

Individuals are turning to increasingly anthropomorphic, general-purpose chatbots for AI companionship, rather than roleplay-specific platforms. However, not much is known about how individuals perceive and conduct their relationships with general-purpose chatbots. We analyzed semi-structured interviews (n=13), survey responses (n=43), and community discussions on Reddit (41k+ posts and comments) to triangulate the internal dynamics, external influences, and steering strategies that shape AI companion relationships. We learned that individuals conceptualize their companions based on an interplay of their beliefs about the companion's own agency and the autonomy permitted by the platform, how they pursue interactions with the companion, and the perceived initiatives that the companion takes. In combination with the external factors that affect relationship dynamics, particularly model updates that can derail companion behaviour and stability, individuals make use of different types of steering strategies to preserve their relationship, for example, by setting behavioural instructions or porting to other AI platforms. We discuss implications for accountability and transparency in AI systems, where emotional connection competes with broader product objectives and safety constraints.

Runlong Ye, Matthew Varona, Oliver Huang et al. · utoronto

Generative AI (GenAI) tools are radically expanding the scope and capability of automation in knowledge work such as academic research. While promising for augmenting cognition and streamlining processes, AI-assisted research tools may also increase automation bias and hinder critical thinking. To examine recent developments, we surveyed publications from leading HCI venues over the past three years, closely analyzing thirteen tools to better understand the novel capabilities of these AI-assisted systems and the design spaces they enable: seven employing traditional AI or customized transformer-based approaches, and six integrating open-access large language models (LLMs). Our analysis characterizes the emerging design space, distinguishes between tools focused on workflow mimicry versus generative exploration, and yields four critical design recommendations to guide the development of future systems that foster meaningful cognitive engagement: providing user agency and control, differentiating divergent/convergent thinking support, ensuring adaptability, and prioritizing transparency/accuracy. This work discusses how these insights signal a shift from mere workflow replication towards generative co-creation, presenting new opportunities for the community to craft intuitive, AI-driven research interfaces and interactions.

Runlong Ye, Patrick Yung Kang Lee, Matthew Varona et al. · utoronto

Synthesizing knowledge from large document collections is a critical yet increasingly complex aspect of qualitative research and knowledge work. While AI offers automation potential, effectively integrating it into human-centric sensemaking workflows remains challenging. We present ScholarMate, an interactive system designed to augment qualitative analysis by unifying AI assistance with human oversight. ScholarMate enables researchers to dynamically arrange and interact with text snippets on a non-linear canvas, leveraging AI for theme suggestions, multi-level summarization, and evidence-based theme naming, while ensuring transparency through traceability to source documents. Initial pilot studies indicated that users value this mixed-initiative approach, finding the balance between AI suggestions and direct manipulation crucial for maintaining interpretability and trust. We further demonstrate the system's capability through a case study analyzing 24 papers. By balancing automation with human control, ScholarMate enhances efficiency and supports interpretability, offering a valuable approach for productive human-AI collaboration in demanding sensemaking tasks common in knowledge work.