Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
@upolehsan.bsky.social
🎯 Making AI less evil= human-centered + explainable + responsible AI
💼 Harvard Berkman Klein Fellow | CS Prof. @Northeastern | Data & Society
🏢 Prev-Georgia Tech, {Google, IBM, MSFT}Research
🔬 AI, HCI, Philosophy
☕ F1, memes
🌐 upolehsan.com
💼 Harvard Berkman Klein Fellow | CS Prof. @Northeastern | Data & Society
🏢 Prev-Georgia Tech, {Google, IBM, MSFT}Research
🔬 AI, HCI, Philosophy
☕ F1, memes
🌐 upolehsan.com
Pinned
👋 Intro time!
🎯 I make AI systems explainable + responsible so that people who are not at the table don't end up on the menu.
💼 Incoming CS Asst Prof @ Northeastern + Berkman Klein Fellow @ Harvard.
Into HCI, AI, social sciences? Let's connect! 🤝
#AcademicSky @academic-chatter.bsky.social
🎯 I make AI systems explainable + responsible so that people who are not at the table don't end up on the menu.
💼 Incoming CS Asst Prof @ Northeastern + Berkman Klein Fellow @ Harvard.
Into HCI, AI, social sciences? Let's connect! 🤝
#AcademicSky @academic-chatter.bsky.social
Trump is MAGA for Mamdani.
I've never seen another politician being as adept as Mamdani when it comes to coming back to the point.
How is he this good?
My hot take: it's his training as a rapper.
Somewhere there's a thesis to be written on nerdy rappers who end up as professionals.
I've never seen another politician being as adept as Mamdani when it comes to coming back to the point.
How is he this good?
My hot take: it's his training as a rapper.
Somewhere there's a thesis to be written on nerdy rappers who end up as professionals.
Working people have been left behind in New York. In the wealthiest city in the world, one in five can't afford $2.90 for the train or bus. As I told Trump today— it’s time to put those people right back at the heart of our politics.
November 22, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Trump is MAGA for Mamdani.
I've never seen another politician being as adept as Mamdani when it comes to coming back to the point.
How is he this good?
My hot take: it's his training as a rapper.
Somewhere there's a thesis to be written on nerdy rappers who end up as professionals.
I've never seen another politician being as adept as Mamdani when it comes to coming back to the point.
How is he this good?
My hot take: it's his training as a rapper.
Somewhere there's a thesis to be written on nerdy rappers who end up as professionals.
📣 (pls repost, self plugs welcomed!):
Looking for papers on the precarity of *knowledge/white-collar workers* under AI.
Lots on gig work + AI, but less on how non-unionized, higher-income knowledge workers face rising risks from AI systems they help create.
Got recs?
#academicSky #HCI #AI
Looking for papers on the precarity of *knowledge/white-collar workers* under AI.
Lots on gig work + AI, but less on how non-unionized, higher-income knowledge workers face rising risks from AI systems they help create.
Got recs?
#academicSky #HCI #AI
November 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
📣 (pls repost, self plugs welcomed!):
Looking for papers on the precarity of *knowledge/white-collar workers* under AI.
Lots on gig work + AI, but less on how non-unionized, higher-income knowledge workers face rising risks from AI systems they help create.
Got recs?
#academicSky #HCI #AI
Looking for papers on the precarity of *knowledge/white-collar workers* under AI.
Lots on gig work + AI, but less on how non-unionized, higher-income knowledge workers face rising risks from AI systems they help create.
Got recs?
#academicSky #HCI #AI
Test of Time awards eat Best Paper awards for lunch 🔥🔥🔥 Given how fast moving Computer Science is as a field, work that stands the test of time is the real deal 💯
Congrats @markriedl.bsky.social! So wholesome to see fellow EI-lab alum @matthewguz.bsky.social up there as well!
Congrats @markriedl.bsky.social! So wholesome to see fellow EI-lab alum @matthewguz.bsky.social up there as well!
I am extremely honored and humbled to have been awarded a Test-of-Time award for my 2005 paper "From Linear Story Generation to Branching Story Graphs" with R. Michael Young
November 12, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Test of Time awards eat Best Paper awards for lunch 🔥🔥🔥 Given how fast moving Computer Science is as a field, work that stands the test of time is the real deal 💯
Congrats @markriedl.bsky.social! So wholesome to see fellow EI-lab alum @matthewguz.bsky.social up there as well!
Congrats @markriedl.bsky.social! So wholesome to see fellow EI-lab alum @matthewguz.bsky.social up there as well!
My mentor @markriedl.bsky.social posted this from the AIES conference. Made my day!
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
Here at the AI Ethics and Society Conference, I’m best known as “ @upolehsan.bsky.social ‘s Advisor”
November 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
My mentor @markriedl.bsky.social posted this from the AIES conference. Made my day!
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
There are many ways to motivate people.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
There are many ways to motivate people.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
Didn't realize Bsky logged me out. Came back to this banger. Made my day!
Here at the AI Ethics and Society Conference, I’m best known as “ @upolehsan.bsky.social ‘s Advisor”
November 4, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Didn't realize Bsky logged me out. Came back to this banger. Made my day!
Peak academic mood: ghosting Nobel Prize for solitude.
✨ The real prize was peace.
✨ The real prize was peace.
October 7, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Peak academic mood: ghosting Nobel Prize for solitude.
✨ The real prize was peace.
✨ The real prize was peace.
September 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
It is eye opening to see the same CS conference venues loudly talking about "accessibility" and "allyship" are forcing people to travel (regardless of visa/health issues) and banning hybrid efforts.
September 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
It is eye opening to see the same CS conference venues loudly talking about "accessibility" and "allyship" are forcing people to travel (regardless of visa/health issues) and banning hybrid efforts.
⚠️ The #CHI2026 paper I submitted? It almost didn't exist. That's the BTS part academics never post. So I will…to normalize what I call unglamorous persistence.
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
September 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM
⚠️ The #CHI2026 paper I submitted? It almost didn't exist. That's the BTS part academics never post. So I will…to normalize what I call unglamorous persistence.
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
🎉 Post-CHI submission reflection: Yes, academia has its mess. But amidst all that, there's one joy I keep coming back to...building something meaningful with people you truly love working with.
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
September 13, 2025 at 12:18 AM
🎉 Post-CHI submission reflection: Yes, academia has its mess. But amidst all that, there's one joy I keep coming back to...building something meaningful with people you truly love working with.
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
'Tis that time of the year, homies. May your contributions be accepted by the grumpy R2s
#academicSky #chi2026
#academicSky #chi2026
September 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
'Tis that time of the year, homies. May your contributions be accepted by the grumpy R2s
#academicSky #chi2026
#academicSky #chi2026
Tried something new today.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
August 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Tried something new today.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
Reposted by Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
August 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
gpt5 writes like it considers mayonnaise is spicy.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
August 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
gpt5 writes like it considers mayonnaise is spicy.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
Homies, you aren't getting it.
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
August 9, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Homies, you aren't getting it.
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
[Pls repost] Hi folks, do you have any templates for reasonable accommodations letters written by your provider/doc for Long Covid?
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
August 6, 2025 at 3:16 AM
[Pls repost] Hi folks, do you have any templates for reasonable accommodations letters written by your provider/doc for Long Covid?
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
The Onion used to make jokes.
Now it does academic ethnography.
Now it does academic ethnography.
August 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The Onion used to make jokes.
Now it does academic ethnography.
Now it does academic ethnography.
🧠 LLMs don’t think; they 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 thinking. Treating performance as proof is how we fall into the 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲.
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
The psychology of LLM interactions: the uncanny valley and other minds
Through their ability to converse in a human-like fashion, large language models (LLMs) have underscored the need to revisit our definitions of consciousness, and how we know if someone who claims ...
www.tandfonline.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:54 PM
🧠 LLMs don’t think; they 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 thinking. Treating performance as proof is how we fall into the 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲.
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
Imagine this being your opening line. Reads like someone asked ChatGPT: “Write a DM to an expert but make it weird.” what a time to be alive.
August 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Imagine this being your opening line. Reads like someone asked ChatGPT: “Write a DM to an expert but make it weird.” what a time to be alive.
Reposted by Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
“So you’d rather segregate all of these people from society instead of mildly inconveniencing yourself?”🫠
August 1, 2025 at 6:19 AM
“So you’d rather segregate all of these people from society instead of mildly inconveniencing yourself?”🫠
Reposted by Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
The fight to get AI right in Bangladesh, the world’s eighth-most populous country - Khoury College of Computer Sciences
When Khoury College Assistant Professor Upol Ehsan sat for an AI-focused interview with Channel24, one of the largest TV channels in his native Bangladesh, he did not anticipate what would […]
www.khoury.northeastern.edu
July 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
The fight to get AI right in Bangladesh, the world’s eighth-most populous country - Khoury College of Computer Sciences
When Khoury College Assistant Professor Upol Ehsan sat for an AI-focused interview with Channel24, one of the largest TV channels in his native Bangladesh, he did not anticipate what would […]
www.khoury.northeastern.edu
July 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
And if you have a Bangladeshi colleague or friend, check in on them. The grief is not confined to one place. It has rippled across the world and deep into the diaspora.
Having a hard time processing this: A fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladesh. Most of the injured and deceased are children.
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bangladesh jet crash: What we know about the deadly crash into a Dhaka school
The crash, which killed 27, marks the deadliest aviation disaster the country has seen in decades.
www.bbc.com
July 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
And if you have a Bangladeshi colleague or friend, check in on them. The grief is not confined to one place. It has rippled across the world and deep into the diaspora.
Having a hard time processing this: A fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladesh. Most of the injured and deceased are children.
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bangladesh jet crash: What we know about the deadly crash into a Dhaka school
The crash, which killed 27, marks the deadliest aviation disaster the country has seen in decades.
www.bbc.com
July 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Having a hard time processing this: A fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladesh. Most of the injured and deceased are children.
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...