Dr. Yuan Li, an assistant professor at the School of Library and Information Studies, studies how people interact with information and digital technologies in everyday contexts. Her work looks at human-computer interaction, human-AI interaction and user experience design, with a focus on building systems that better support how people learn, create and make decisions.
The center of Dr. Li’s research is a simple question: how can people be better supported when they are working through complex tasks without clear or immediate answers? Whether someone is conducting research or solving a problem, Dr. Li’s research examines what kinds of information, tools, and system features are most helpful as users search, evaluate and apply information, particularly in AI-powered environments.
From Emerging AI Tools to Everyday Information Practices
Much of Dr. Li’s current work explores the growing role of generative AI in information networks. One area of her research examines how AI is being discussed and adopted in library and information settings, including how both professionals and the public interpret its possibilities and risks. Another area focuses on how generative AI can support users as they work through complex, multi-step tasks such as learning, research and creative production.
Together, these projects offer practical insights into how AI systems can be designed and implemented to align with real user needs. As digital technologies are integrated into libraries, schools, and workplaces, Dr. Li’s research helps address a critical gap: the lack of clear understanding about how these tools function in everyday practice.
“My work helps provide evidence for how these technologies can be used more thoughtfully,” Dr. Li explains, emphasizing the importance of grounding innovation in actual user experience.
Her research is especially relevant for library and information professionals, educators and designers, groups that play a key role in shaping how people access and use information. By focusing on context, behavior and user needs, Dr. Li’s work supports the development of systems that are more responsive, accessible and effective.
Bridging User Insight and Technology Design
A central contribution of Dr. Li’s research lies in its ability to connect human insight with technological development. Her work has clear applications beyond academia, informing how libraries design services, how educators approach digital and AI literacy and how developers build tools that reflect real human behavior.
One of her recent projects, supported by the Research and Creative Excellence Fund, exemplifies this approach. The project develops a smart virtual library assistant using AI-conducted interviews to gather large-scale insights from both users and librarians. By analyzing how questions are asked and answered in real contexts, the research aims to design a more advanced, responsive chatbot, one that moves beyond static FAQs to provide more tailored, expertise-driven support.
For Dr. Li, the broader takeaway from her field is clear: the success of a technology depends on more than its technical capabilities. It depends on how well it fits the people, tasks and situations it is designed to support. Ultimately, her work reflects a commitment to making technology more human-centered and meaningful.
As she puts it, “Research matters because it helps us see how people actually engage with information and technology, so we can design better systems, better services, and better support for real human needs.”
