Rate My Professor Cynthia Breazeal

Cynthia Breazeal is a professor of media arts and sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with expertise in computer science disciplines such as artificial intelligence, social robotics, and human-robot interaction. She founded and directs the Personal Robots Group at the MIT Media Lab, where her team develops principles, techniques, and technologies for socially intelligent personal robots that interact and communicate with people in human-centric terms, collaborate as peers, and learn from people as apprentices. Breazeal serves as MIT Dean for Digital Learning, leading Open Learning’s business and research and engagement units; founding Director of the MIT-wide Initiative on Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE), which advances AI literacy for K-12 and the workforce; and Associate Director of the MIT Media Lab. She earned her S.B. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1989, and conducted graduate work at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab, receiving her S.M. in 1993 and Sc.D. in 2000, both in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

A pioneer in social robotics, Breazeal's research investigates social robots for applications in education, pediatrics, health and wellness, aging, and personalized learning companions for language, literacy, and social-emotional development. Her recent work emphasizes 'living with AI,' examining long-term impacts of companion robots that build relationships and provide support. She authored the seminal book Designing Sociable Robots, recognized as a landmark in launching the fields of social robotics and human-robot interaction, and has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles in journals and conferences on autonomous robotics, artificial intelligence, human-robot interaction, and robot learning. Breazeal co-founded the consumer social robotics company Jibo, Inc., serving as Chief Scientist and Chief Experience Officer. She serves on editorial boards for autonomous robots, affective computing, entertainment technology, and multi-agent systems. Her honors include Fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2024), Fellowship in the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Senior Membership in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, National Academy of Engineering Gilbreth Lecture Award, Technology Review TR35 Award, TIME magazine Best Inventions recognition for Jibo, National Design Awards finalist, and Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award. Initiatives like the Day of AI program under RAISE have delivered AI literacy education to over a million K-12 students in 170 countries. She has keynoted at TED, the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, SXSW, CES, and top academic conferences.