Jenny Fu

Researcher

Jenny Fu, postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University, studies the impact of AI-mediated communication tools on people’s emotional and social well-being. Her previous research explored how ‘smart glasses’ influence interactions between the wearer and another person.

Fu says:

“We are seeing the emergence of artificial reality (AR) glasses shifting everyday social dynamics. While most AI-mediated communication has been text-based, AR glasses move this mediation into embodied, face-to-face interactions. The addition of a wristband extends interaction beyond head and upper-body gestures into hand movements, making AI present in subtle, physical ways.

“However, AR glasses don’t just affect the wearer, but also others who are interacting with the person. The new forms of interaction enabled by AR glasses open up questions about asymmetry in awareness. For the wearer, AI adds a layer of perception and agency; for the non-wearer, it is harder to make sense of actions or pauses shaped by the device. Previous research on bystanders shows that when conversations fail, people often blame themselves. AR glasses might intensify this dynamic by introducing hidden factors that tip the balance, leaving non-users disadvantaged in understanding what went wrong.”