Meet our Princeton University Graduate Fellows: Rose Guingrich
In our Meet the Fellows series, we learn from three emerging professionals at Princeton University who are carving their unique paths in the Responsible Tech ecosystem. Today, we learn from Rose Guingrich! Rose is a PhD candidate in Psychology and Social Policy and a GradFUTURES Social Impact Fellow at All Tech Is Human. Her research focuses on the intersection of Psychology and Artificial Intelligence, with special attention to human-AI interaction and mind perception. At All Tech Is Human, she is excited to explore the implications of AI companions and chatbots. Previously, Rose served as a Graduate Research Fellow at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Check out Rose’s interview below.
Can you share a pivotal moment that shaped your interest in responsible technology?
Before the dawn of ChatGPT and generative AI, I was an undergrad in psychology taking comparative literature and philosophy courses on self-perception and the concept of "personhood" across cultures. In 2019, I elected to take an anthropology and religious studies course on transhumanism and artificial intelligence. Through reading science fiction novels from "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" to religious manifestos on the singularity and our new AI gods, I began to wonder how the idea of a "person" and a "self" would change in the wake of intelligent, humanlike AI. I asked how this technology might change people's perception of their role in society and influence how they interact with others. I had the sense back then that AI was one of those technological advancements that would evolve too quickly for policy to keep up. I decided then that I was going to research human-AI interaction in my PhD to help bridge the gap between rapid AI advancement and policy’s ability to respond. I thought that maybe, if I started early enough, I might help mitigate the negative consequences that AI could have on society and provide research-backed insights on how to turn those into benefits.
How does this fellowship support your professional goals?
When I started my PhD, I was the only student in my department studying the psychology of human-AI interaction. This forced me to seek outside resources to create a foundation of knowledge within this nascent field. Through this process, I recognized there was a lack of accessible educational resources on the topic and space for discourse. One of my goals became to provide people with the tools and resources to be more educated and responsible users and developers of AI technology. Through this, I found All Tech is Human! Being a fellow at All Tech is Human has provided me with a rich, collaborative, inclusive space to engage in discourse on responsible tech. All Tech is Human has not only connected me to so many amazing leaders within the responsible tech movement, but it has also provided me with a platform through which to communicate my expertise and share the educational resources I’ve created to a wider audience. I find myself continually impressed with the community and culture All Tech is Human has cultivated within responsible tech.
What role does mentorship play in your career?
Mentorship could not be more important! It has been my utmost pleasure to mentor students of all levels throughout my career. I approach mentorship with intention, recognizing that through my position, I have the unique opportunity empower others to become the next leaders in the responsible tech movement. I’ve mentored startups on ethical and viable applications of their proposed AI products, high school students on their innovative LLM projects, undergrads on their theses and career goals, and fellow graduate students in their research and how to advocate for their needs as mentees. I have not yet turned down anyone who has reached out to me for mentorship, and I hope to continue with this trend. (Yes, this is an invite for anyone seeking mentorship in my area of expertise!).
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself operating as a bridge between academia, industry, and policy as a researcher, educator, and consultant. Given the current landscape, it’s clear that we need more interdisciplinary and cross-sector communication and collaboration. A responsible tech future cannot be responsible for all unless we create a space for this and amplify not just the loudest voices in the room. I love that All Tech is Human does this through their platform. During my experience at All Tech is Human, I have gained both the skills and tools to cultivate an intentional environment for inclusive discourse in my career as a psychologist researching human-AI interaction and ethics.
What societal impact do you hope your work will achieve?
Human-AI interaction taps into our psychology in ways that transcend the impact of the technologies that came before AI. AI is different in that it is humanlike and has the ability to act on its own accord. As such, we need a better understanding of the psychology behind human-AI interaction to inform ethical and responsible use and development of emerging AI tools. I hope that my work can shed light on how human-AI interaction can impact human-human interaction in both positive and negative ways to mitigate the bad and promote the good.
Want to learn more about our career and workforce development lines of effort? Subscribe to our biweekly careers newsletter below!
