An illustration of the top of the statue of The Thinker by Rodin. There is a nest in his head, with three chicks sticking out, and their parent bird flying above.

Tools for Thought

Better thinking through AI

A New Computing Experience project
at Microsoft Research, Cambridge UK

Current

HCI Special Issue on Generative AI in Tools for Thought: Theory, Design, and Assessment

Generative AI is rapidly reshaping cognitive workflows—from creative writing to scientific reasoning. Yet we still grapple with questions: Does GenAI amplify our creativity or foster over-reliance? How do we design AI systems that preserve critical thinking and cognitive agency? This special issue of Human-Computer Interaction (opens in new tab) brings together HCI scholars, cognitive scientists, designers, and ethicists to tackle these challenges.

Proposals Due: 15 October, 2025

See the full Call for papers: https://ai-tools-for-thought.github.io/workshop/hci-special-issue (opens in new tab)

People

The Tools for Thought team is interdisciplinary, mixing experts in social science, computer science, engineering, and design. The team is co-lead by Richard Banks and Sean Rintel.