This seminar will be conducted in hybrid mode.
Zoom link: hkust-gz-edu-cn.zoom.us/j/7164169066?pwd=SYKO4udoofje1NRjJNzUCg1M4quShX.1
Meeting ID: 716 416 9066
Passcode: 2025hci

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence for Social Good (AI4SG) is often promoted as a way to address societal challenges from public health to climate change. However, despite increasing investment, there is limited evidence of meaningful and lasting benefits for intended communities. While prior HCI research has focused on the process and outcomes of AI4SG projects, it has paid less attention to the funding agendas and institutional priorities that shape these projects from the outset.

In this talk, I will present findings from a thematic analysis of 35 AI4SG funding calls (about USD $410 million in investments), published at CHI2026. The study surfaces tensions between ambitious claims of social impact and funding structures that prioritize technological innovation over community engagement and long-term sustainability, while also highlighting programs that actively support community-centered approaches. Building on these insights, I will discuss how the HCI community and funders can collaborate to create more community-centered AI initiatives, and briefly share my current work on supporting participation in local climate action through community-based design in Boston, United States. I hope this talk will prompt discussion on how the HCI community can shape AI for social impact by influencing institutions, funding structures, and partnerships, particularly in the unique context of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

About the Speaker

Hongjin Lin (林鸿瑾) is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at Harvard University, where she is advised by Krzysztof Gajos and works closely with Catherine D’Ignazio and Kentaro Toyama. She is an affiliate of the Data + Feminism Lab at MIT and a co-facilitator of the Harvard Climate Leaders Program. Her research examines how AI can better achieve social impact through community-centered design. She received her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Occidental College, a master's degree in Data Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and previously worked as a research fellow at Stanford Law School. Beyond academia, Hongjin has worked closely with community organizations and international development initiatives across China, the UK, the US, and Malawi. Born and raised in Guangzhou, China, Hongjin feels particularly at home in the subtropics. When she is not in front of her computer, she enjoys spending time in nature, practicing and teaching yoga, dancing, and building local communities.