Graduates
Zibo Chen
MFA in Media Design Practices - 3 Yr Path — Media Design PracticesCourse:
Thesis Project
Faculty:
Timothy Durfee
Term:
2026 Spring
Soft Authority AI Operating System
Soft Authority is a speculative AI operating system that acts as a perceptual layer between the user and their environment.
It continuously interprets and reframes the world in real time through AI agents with different perspectives. By shifting between these perspectives, the system reveals how AI can shape human perception and understanding.
It also reimagines the interface between humans and AI as a spatial, embodied system. And instead of a fixed AI behavior, it gives users control over how the system interprets the world.
Process:
The project follows an iterative, research-through-design process that combines theoretical inquiry with prototyping and experiential testing. It begins with critical research into human-AI relationships, focusing on themes such as autonomy, obedience, and behavioral influence. These insights inform the conceptual framing of AI as an interpretive system rather than a passive tool.
Building on this foundation, the project moves into prototyping within a mixed reality environment, where three AI agents with distinct behavioral logics are developed and embodied. Through real-time interaction design, object recognition, and voice-based communication, the system is tested and refined to explore how different AI “personalities” shape user perception and decision-making.
Finally, the process culminates in experiential evaluation through live demos and scenario-based interactions, examining how users respond to AI influence, autonomy, and emotional engagement. This approach highlights how AI systems can actively mediate human perception, behavior, and sense of control.
Learning Outcomes:
The project demonstrates a deeper understanding of how AI systems influence human perception, behavior, and decision-making through design. It highlights the importance of moving beyond utility-driven AI toward systems that actively shape interpretation, revealing the subtle power of agreement, bias, and behavioral nudging.
It also develops skills in designing for human–AI relationships within immersive environments, including the creation of embodied AI agents with distinct personalities, interaction logics, and real-time responsiveness. This includes integrating technologies such as mixed reality, object recognition, and conversational AI into a cohesive experiential system.
Finally, the project strengthens critical thinking around autonomy, agency, and ethics in AI design. It emphasizes how design choices can either reinforce passive user behavior or provoke awareness, reflection, and more active engagement with intelligent systems.
Project Website: