AI can support humans
When Google came knocking on my door, I was confuddled: “You need a writer? Say what?”
Years later, I'm convinced that creatives who can navigate the corporate world are crucial in tech. Because you need the humanities to make products that truly put humans first.
As a Senior UX content strategist, I've spent years making AI agents like the Google Assistant and Bard more international, emotionally supportive and delightful.
Because all languages and cultures should be represented.
Because our practical tech needs are motivated by emotional needs.
Because even virtual conversations should put a smile on your face.
Drawing on character design, psychology and research in Human-Computer Interactions (HCI), I've focused my expertise on mental health and education. I'm passionate about designing agents with whom we can practice having difficult conversations before having them IRL, and get the personalized tutoring we all need to learn at our own speed.
Here are some projects I'm most proud of because they keep the AI-pocalypse in Hollywood.
UX
〰️
Mental health
〰️
education
〰️
UX 〰️ Mental health 〰️ education 〰️
HomeTeam: an AI-powered educational program to support veterans’ mental health
With ReflexAI & Google.org
92% of vets report wanting to help their fellow peers but only 25% feel equipped to have those conversations.
As UX lead, I had the privilege to work with an all-star team to design HomeTeam's end-to-end educational experience to bridge that gap. We made it for vets with vets.
My favorite part? After learning about life-saving communication skills thru a series of modules, learners get to practice them with an AI-powered chat simulation. The AI plays the role of a veteran in need of support and the learner becomes the supporter. Think of it as a flight simulator for conversations.
Lauren's ability to translate sensitive UXR findings on mental health into actionable UX decisions was particularly impressive. Added to the unique educational chat simulation experience, she helped create an impactful learning space for our vulnerable population, which is essential for their success.
John Callery-Coyne, ReflexAI Cofounder
“Hey Google, I'm sad”: how to respond with empathy to vulnerable users
With Google
People express all kinds of emotions to virtual assistants: sadness, frustration, anger, even loneliness.
Although the Google Assistant certainly isn't a therapist, my co-worker Rola Najem and I believed that responding with warmth and helpful information was an opportunity to better serve vulnerable folks. We worked with experts in psychology on experiments grounded in empathetic communication and positive psychology to find the best strategy to turn people's frowns upside down.
Turns out validating people's experience before offering apologies or advice holds for conversations with humans and virtual agents alike.
“Bonjour Google”: promoting cultural diversity with the Google Assistant
With Google
As humans, we project personality onto anything that can respond to us. Virtual assistants especially. So my team brought the human touch behind the Google Assistant by defining its traits: friendly, helpful, entertaining but never in the way.
I was in charge of translating that personality for French-speaking audiences in 17 countries spanning 3 continents. Most of these countries are multicultural: Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians braid French into Arabic, while Belgians have their unique brand of French.
I led research with native speakers, ran experiments and designed a scalable strategy to make the Assistant an ambassador of our cultural diversity.
I even got to evangelize this work in a series of press events with Le Monde, the Huffington Post, Radio Nova, France Info, Konbini and more, with a total reach of 46,6M people.
Bloomberg - “How Google Jokes Around”
We knew Lauren was a great writer, but she's also a talented speaker!
Chloe Broughton, Group Marketing Manager Google France
I share more about this work through
SPEAKING
My talks explore the unique intersection of tech and language through a blend of personal storytelling, academic research and live poetry, to educate and delight your audience.
“Lauren is an inspired and inspiring speaker: she knows how to captivate her audience on topics that will define our future.”
Valérian David, Inspiration Manager at Renault Group
