At the Mar. 6 symposium “Creative Agency in the Age of AI,” the Northwestern University Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design (HCI+D)—a collaboration between Northwestern Engineering and Northwestern’s School of Communication—convened researchers, designers, and artists to examine how generative AI is reshaping what it means to be creative.

Symposium participants—which included faculty, students, and industry partners working in the arts—explored key interdisciplinary questions about human-AI collaboration, including how AI shifts roles within creative teams, how interface design can better support human intention, and what knowledge people need to stay in control of their creative process.

"Whether we are scientists, humanists, or artists, creativity lies at the heart of excellence,” said Liz Gerber, codirector of HCI+D, professor of mechanical engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering, and professor of communication studies in the School of Communication. “The symposium brought together a distinguished cohort of Northwestern scholars to examine a question that cuts across all disciplines: what role does human agency play in an era of artificial intelligence?"

Duri Long, assistant professor of communication studies and (by courtesy) computer science at Northwestern University, welcomed the guests.

“As AI tools are increasingly shaping creative work, it is critical to both understand how current tools are affecting humans’ creative agency and how we can create a future where human creative agency flourishes,” Long said. “Careful attention needs to be paid to how AI tools are designed and integrated into creative teams and workflows to ensure that we support human agency.”

Long co-organized the event with Karan Ahuja, the Lisa Wissner-Slivka and Benjamin Slivka Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the McCormick School of Engineering; and Noshir Contractor, Jane S. and William J. White Professor of Behavioral Sciences at the Northwestern Engineering and School of Communication and professor of management and organizations at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Illustrating AI’s creative collaboration potential, the symposium opened with a demo of AI applications and workflows, followed by a networking luncheon and three panel sessions.

During the demo workshop, Ahuja and Chenfeng (Jesse) Gao, a PhD student in Northwestern’s Technology and Social Behavior program, presented a system that uses generative AI to help users go from a text description to a physically fabricable artifact. The system bridges the gap between digital design and physical production by automatically translating creative intent into fabrication-ready outputs, allowing users to focus on aesthetic and compositional choices rather than technical details.

In addition, Ethan Manilow (PhD ’22, MS ’17), a senior research scientist at Google DeepMind, shared the company’s Lyria and Magenta music generation models. Using text or image prompts, he demonstrated how users can create high-fidelity audio tracks. Manilow earned a PhD in computer science and communication from Northwestern’s Technology and Social Behavior program. He was advised by HCI+D codirector Bryan Pardo, a professor of computer science at Northwestern Engineering and head of the Interactive Audio Lab.

“The demos showcased cutting-edge tools and artwork that leverage AI to support rather than augment human creativity,” Long said. “The exciting, interactive projects we showcased helped to ground our panel discussions with concrete examples and artifacts."

Automation vs. Agency for AI Creativity Tools

In the first panel session, Ahuja moderated a discussion with Manilow; associate professor of radio, television, and film Ozge Samanci; Lydia Chilton (Columbia University); and Max Kreminski (Cornell Tech). They discussed the tension between human agency and AI automation in creative processes like filmmaking, music, and storytelling. The group talked about the idea of "suffering" through a medium to develop taste and mastery, while debating whether AI will lead to artistic homogenization or provide new tools for individual expression.

AI & Agency in Creative Teamwork

During the second session, Contractor led a discussion with Ignacio Fernandez Cruz, assistant professor of communication studies; Jeffrey Treem, Theodore R. and Annie Laurie Sills Professor of Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; Brian Bailey (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign); and Joy Kim (Adobe). They explored the evolving role of AI in creative teamwork, specifically focusing on how AI affects human agency, attribution of credit, and team dynamics. The panelists highlighted both the opportunities for AI to enhance coordination and decision-making, as well as the potential risks of social isolation and the fear of reputational stigma leading users to conceal their AI use.

Agency and Cognition in Human-AI Processes

In the final session, Long was joined by panelists Michael Horn, professor of computer science at Northwestern Engineering and professor of learning science at Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy; Steven Dow (University of California San Diego); and John Zimmerman (Carnegie Mellon University). They examined the complex relationship between human agency, cognition, and artificial intelligence within creative workflows. The participants discuss how AI can both empower and limit creators, touching on themes such as the importance of maintaining a felt experience of control, the role of AI in supporting experts versus novices, and the evolving nature of ownership and responsibility in the age of generative tools.

Drawing on the day’s dialogue, participants wrapped the event by collaborating in small groups on a speed-writing activity to write mini-proposals for future research projects related to AI and creative agency.

“In the afternoon session, we ideated about the future of AI and creative agency, speed writing mini research proposals on topics such as using AI as social glue to foster creative teamwork, exploring what role expertise plays in moderating AI reliance, and designing AI agents to push people out of their creative comfort zones,” Long said. “Our hope is that this symposium paves the way for future interdisciplinary research collaborations, leading to a future where AI supports human creative agency rather than undermining it.”