Hari Subramonyan

DraftMarks embeds process traces directly into the document using skeuomorphic encodings (e.g., masking tape, smudge marks, eraser crumbs). Instead of external provenance dashboards, the process becomes legible in situ during close reading. This supports what we call process-aware reading.

Check out our paper for complete details: arxiv.org/pdf/2509.23505. @stanfordeducation.bsky.social @stanfordhai.bsky.social

In a controlled study (N=70), DraftMarks significantly improved readers’ ability to reconstruct AI collaboration patterns and perceive human effort—without increasing extraneous cognitive load.
Process visibility changed how people judged trust, originality, and learning.

DraftMarks adapts the same underlying trace data to these reading intents.

Different stakeholders need different traces.
In formative studies:
• Teachers wanted evidence of student thinking and struggle
• Reviewers prioritized intellectual contribution over workflow details
• General readers cared about authenticity and voice

Readers already interpret physical revision marks (cross-outs, tape, marginalia) as signals of effort, revision, and authorship. DraftMarks repurposes this cultural literacy to visualize AI collaboration.

DraftMarks embeds process traces directly into the document using skeuomorphic encodings (e.g., masking tape, smudge marks, eraser crumbs). Instead of external provenance dashboards, the process becomes legible in situ during close reading. This supports what we call process-aware reading.

As AI becomes a writing collaborator, readers face a new problem: what is human thought? What did the AI produce? Existing disclosures tell us that AI was used, but not *how* collaboration unfolded. We introduce DraftMarks, an augmented reading interface for human–AI co-writing. #CHI2026

Nice Commentary on HCI Education in the Jan issue of Interactions Magazine that mentions our Gulf of Envisoning Work with Maneesh @magrawala.bsky.social Chris
Pondoc, Roy Pea, and Colleen Seifert: interactions.acm.org/archive/view...

All righty y'all! The Journal of Black Language and Culture @jblacjournal.bsky.social is now open for submissions! See our website for information on how to submit and reach out if you have questions or ideas as we learn and grow!

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

In this School's In podcast episode, I discuss the intersections of AI, writing, and critical thinking, and reflect on the central role of HCI in designing purpose-built educational tools! Link below:

Check out this great synthesis of the tools for thought workshop we organized at #CHI2025 👇

Screenshot of the special issue website showing title, organizers and links to submit the article. Manuscript deadline is 28th January 2026. Organizers are Srishti Palani, Gonzalo Ramos, Sean Rintel, and Hariharan Subramonmyam

📢 AI is changing the way we create, learn, & reason.
But is it augmenting human cognition, or dulling it?

Please submit your ideas to our #HCI Special Issue: Generative AI in Tools for Thought.

Abstract Deadline: Oct 10, 2025 → tinyurl.com/t4tcfp

Thank you! If possible, would love to chat on zoom, my lab is researching tools for creating interactive learning content.

Would love to learn more about what you are building and the process itself.

Congratulations @momins.bsky.social for your honorable mention award at #CHI2025

Unpredictable Black Boxes are Terrible Interfaces - Prof. Maneesh Agrawala - DSI Join us for the Inequity Speaker Series with Associate Professor Dustin Duncan, from the Department of Epidemiology and Co-Director of the Social and Spatial Epidemiology Unit, Columbia University.

Looking forward to giving a connected pair of upcoming talks!

Apr 14: I'll present Unpredictable Black Boxes are Terrible Interfaces for the Data Science Institute in Toronto

datasciences.utoronto.ca/event/prof-m...

I agree! They should just do that like UIST. In the past I believe CHI only recorded some of the presentations but I could be wrong

I feel you! CHI should get rid of the video presentation or atleast make it optional! It’s way too much work.

📢 Parents! If you know or have high school students interested in STEM, check out this research opportunity. We are inviting high school students to participate in a study on an AI-supported tool that creates interactive STEM simulations for learning! Details below:

If you are a science teacher in the US, please consider participating in our study!! Details below:

Should AI writing tools move beyond chat-based models? What do you think of our layered paradigm? Check out our paper and let us know!! [9/n] @stanfordhai.bsky.social @stanfordgse.bsky.social

Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2502.10638

Video Figure: youtu.be/PWr8uEpxOt0

Why layers? Writing isn’t just knowledge telling—it’s knowledge transformation. Instead of rigid back-and-forths, Script&Shift makes writing modular, fluid, and iterative. Layers let you refine ideas, not just rearrange paragraphs, shaping arguments dynamically. [8/n]

Example use case: Need to build a strong argument? Script&Shift lets you drop your draft into an argument template, structuring it into Claim, Evidence, Warrant & Rebuttal. Tear & Combine sections, refine with Structure Sam, and polish with Feedback Felix [7/n]

Calling Tone Tara in Script&Shift from the "/" menu and asking it to convert the writing into a poem. Tone Tara creates 2 new layers as options for desired transformation to choose from.

Example use case: A journalist drafting a feature can test multiple ledes, refine sections with Feedback Felix, adjust tone with Tone Tara, and merge the best parts—all without breaking flow. [6/n]

For shifting, Script&Shift lets you reshape and refine your writing effortlessly. COMBINE layers to merge ideas, TEAR sections apart to explore new structures and STACK & FOLD for better organization. [5/n]

For scripting, Script&Shift gives you AI Writer’s Friends to assist seamlessly. IDEA IVY sparks ideas, DETAIL DANNY expands depth, STRUCTURE SAM organizes, and TONE TARA refines style. [4/n]

Calling Idea Ivy in Script&Shift using the "/" menu and asking it to generate ideas for potential characters in the story. Idea Ivy provides 5 suggestions.

Comparing two layers by moving them side by side and specifying comparison constraint.

The two key interactions:
📝 Scripting → Generate, edit, and refine specific parts of a document
📚 Shifting → Rearrange, combine, or test different structural variations in your writing [3/n]

Our tool Script&Shift reimagines AI-assisted writing with a layered interface, moving beyond rigid chat and inline suggestions. It blends content development & rhetorical strategy, supports non-destructive editing, and enables expressive, iterative writing—all while protecting cognitive flow [2/n].

Script and Shift Interface showing Combining two layers in Script&Shift's spatial interface by overlapping them vertically and supplying merge instructions

Tearing a layer in Script&Shift by selecting the scissor icon in the toolbar and splitting the layer at the desired paragraph

Current AI-assisted writing interfaces are disruptive. They are either too rigid, too complex, or chat-based, forcing writers into an unnatural back-and-forth. Momin @momins.bsky.social developed a new layered interface paradigm that makes AI-assisted writing more intuitive #CHI2025 [1/n] 👇