In a significant accolade for her groundbreaking contributions, Pattie Maes, the Germeshausen Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been awarded the prestigious 2025 ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award. Maes will formally accept this distinguished honor at the CHI 2025 conference set to take place in Yokohama, Japan, this coming April.

The ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award recognizes exceptional individuals whose work in human-computer interaction (HCI) has had a lasting impact on the field. The selection criteria include the recipient’s cumulative contributions, influence on fellow researchers, and active engagement with the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI) community.

Known for her deep advocacy of placing human agency at the forefront of HCI and artificial intelligence (AI), Maes champions the notion that AI should complement and enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. Her pioneering work dates back to the 1990s when she introduced the idea of software agents, establishing a foundation for many aspects of today’s digital experiences. Her renowned paper, “Social information filtering: algorithms for automating 'word of mouth,'” co-authored with graduate student Upendra Shardanand for the CHI 1995 conference, stands as the second-most-cited publication in the ACM SIGCHI archives.

Maes's innovative vision extends beyond desktop experiences; she is also a leader in developing novel wearable technologies aimed at enhancing human capabilities. These devices aid in critical areas such as memory enhancement, learning, decision-making, and health monitoring. Her research is grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to design, emphasizing accessibility, ethics, and a human-centered methodology.

“Pattie is a cornerstone of the Media Lab, MIT, and the larger HCI community,” remarked Media Lab Director Dava Newman. “Her diverse contributions and steadfast dedication to improving the human experience epitomize the Media Lab’s interdisciplinary ethos and our mission to develop transformative technologies that empower people to reimagine their lives. We celebrate this well-deserved recognition for Pattie!”

Maes joins the ranks of an elite group as the second MIT professor to receive this honor, following her colleague Hiroshi Ishii, the Jerome B. Wiesner Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and head of the Tangible Media research group.

Reflecting on her recognition, Maes expressed, "I am honored to be acknowledged by the ACM community. It can sometimes be challenging for researchers in highly interdisciplinary fields to receive appreciation, but I believe that some of the most impactful innovations stem from this very approach to research."

As the fields of HCI and AI continue to evolve, Maes's work remains pivotal, illustrating the endless possibilities at the intersection of technology and human experience. Stay tuned for more updates on the CHI 2025 conference, where this award ceremony will shine a spotlight on groundbreaking achievements in the realm of human-computer interaction.