Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
@upolehsan.bsky.social
🎯 Making AI less evil= human-centered + explainable + responsible AI
💼 Harvard Berkman Klein Fellow | CS Prof. @Northeastern | Data & Society
🏢 Prev-Georgia Tech, {Google, IBM, MSFT}Research
🔬 AI, HCI, Philosophy
☕ F1, memes
🌐 upolehsan.com
💼 Harvard Berkman Klein Fellow | CS Prof. @Northeastern | Data & Society
🏢 Prev-Georgia Tech, {Google, IBM, MSFT}Research
🔬 AI, HCI, Philosophy
☕ F1, memes
🌐 upolehsan.com
Pinned
👋 Intro time!
🎯 I make AI systems explainable + responsible so that people who are not at the table don't end up on the menu.
💼 Incoming CS Asst Prof @ Northeastern + Berkman Klein Fellow @ Harvard.
Into HCI, AI, social sciences? Let's connect! 🤝
#AcademicSky @academic-chatter.bsky.social
🎯 I make AI systems explainable + responsible so that people who are not at the table don't end up on the menu.
💼 Incoming CS Asst Prof @ Northeastern + Berkman Klein Fellow @ Harvard.
Into HCI, AI, social sciences? Let's connect! 🤝
#AcademicSky @academic-chatter.bsky.social
My mentor @markriedl.bsky.social posted this from the AIES conference. Made my day!
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
Here at the AI Ethics and Society Conference, I’m best known as “ @upolehsan.bsky.social ‘s Advisor”
November 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
My mentor @markriedl.bsky.social posted this from the AIES conference. Made my day!
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
Turns out people were opening conversations by saying: "Hey… you're Upol's advisor, right?"
On the surface, hilarious.
Underneath, it's the mentoring philosophy he's practiced for years.
Here's why:
1/n
There are many ways to motivate people.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
There are many ways to motivate people.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
We've seen what fear and division do.
Now we've a chance to see what hope and unity can do.
Didn't realize Bsky logged me out. Came back to this banger. Made my day!
Here at the AI Ethics and Society Conference, I’m best known as “ @upolehsan.bsky.social ‘s Advisor”
November 4, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Didn't realize Bsky logged me out. Came back to this banger. Made my day!
Peak academic mood: ghosting Nobel Prize for solitude.
✨ The real prize was peace.
✨ The real prize was peace.
October 7, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Peak academic mood: ghosting Nobel Prize for solitude.
✨ The real prize was peace.
✨ The real prize was peace.
September 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
It is eye opening to see the same CS conference venues loudly talking about "accessibility" and "allyship" are forcing people to travel (regardless of visa/health issues) and banning hybrid efforts.
September 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
It is eye opening to see the same CS conference venues loudly talking about "accessibility" and "allyship" are forcing people to travel (regardless of visa/health issues) and banning hybrid efforts.
⚠️ The #CHI2026 paper I submitted? It almost didn't exist. That's the BTS part academics never post. So I will…to normalize what I call unglamorous persistence.
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
September 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM
⚠️ The #CHI2026 paper I submitted? It almost didn't exist. That's the BTS part academics never post. So I will…to normalize what I call unglamorous persistence.
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
This summer was one of my hardest, mentally. 🌥️ Between ...
1/n
🎉 Post-CHI submission reflection: Yes, academia has its mess. But amidst all that, there's one joy I keep coming back to...building something meaningful with people you truly love working with.
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
September 13, 2025 at 12:18 AM
🎉 Post-CHI submission reflection: Yes, academia has its mess. But amidst all that, there's one joy I keep coming back to...building something meaningful with people you truly love working with.
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
This summer....
1/n
#academicsky #chi2026 #collaboration
'Tis that time of the year, homies. May your contributions be accepted by the grumpy R2s
#academicSky #chi2026
#academicSky #chi2026
September 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
'Tis that time of the year, homies. May your contributions be accepted by the grumpy R2s
#academicSky #chi2026
#academicSky #chi2026
Tried something new today.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
August 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Tried something new today.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
Gave quick nods to everyone wearing a respirator at the airport.
Almost everyone nodded back. A few even gestured to the respirator.
A quick "I see you homie" moment.
People understood the assignment y'all.
Reposted by Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
August 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
gpt5 writes like it considers mayonnaise is spicy.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
August 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
gpt5 writes like it considers mayonnaise is spicy.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
and considers salt and pepper as spices.
Homies, you aren't getting it.
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
August 9, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Homies, you aren't getting it.
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
The math isn't wrong.
It's just GPT-5 being "PhD level"
[Pls repost] Hi folks, do you have any templates for reasonable accommodations letters written by your provider/doc for Long Covid?
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
August 6, 2025 at 3:16 AM
[Pls repost] Hi folks, do you have any templates for reasonable accommodations letters written by your provider/doc for Long Covid?
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
I'm collecting samples to help the broader community, esp those who are underserved.
If you feel comfortable sharing, it will help a lot of people.
DMs open.
The Onion used to make jokes.
Now it does academic ethnography.
Now it does academic ethnography.
August 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The Onion used to make jokes.
Now it does academic ethnography.
Now it does academic ethnography.
🧠 LLMs don’t think; they 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 thinking. Treating performance as proof is how we fall into the 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲.
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
The psychology of LLM interactions: the uncanny valley and other minds
Through their ability to converse in a human-like fashion, large language models (LLMs) have underscored the need to revisit our definitions of consciousness, and how we know if someone who claims ...
www.tandfonline.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:54 PM
🧠 LLMs don’t think; they 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 thinking. Treating performance as proof is how we fall into the 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲.
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
Enjoyed reading this paper: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Findings from the paper that were worth my time, reflections, and takeaways ↓
Imagine this being your opening line. Reads like someone asked ChatGPT: “Write a DM to an expert but make it weird.” what a time to be alive.
August 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Imagine this being your opening line. Reads like someone asked ChatGPT: “Write a DM to an expert but make it weird.” what a time to be alive.
Reposted by Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
“So you’d rather segregate all of these people from society instead of mildly inconveniencing yourself?”🫠
August 1, 2025 at 6:19 AM
“So you’d rather segregate all of these people from society instead of mildly inconveniencing yourself?”🫠
Reposted by Upol Ehsan | hiring PhD students Fall'26
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
The fight to get AI right in Bangladesh, the world’s eighth-most populous country - Khoury College of Computer Sciences
When Khoury College Assistant Professor Upol Ehsan sat for an AI-focused interview with Channel24, one of the largest TV channels in his native Bangladesh, he did not anticipate what would […]
www.khoury.northeastern.edu
July 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
The fight to get AI right in Bangladesh, the world’s eighth-most populous country - Khoury College of Computer Sciences
When Khoury College Assistant Professor Upol Ehsan sat for an AI-focused interview with Channel24, one of the largest TV channels in his native Bangladesh, he did not anticipate what would […]
www.khoury.northeastern.edu
July 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Backstory: “AI in Bangladesh is a side quest,” they dismissed. I disagreed. 170 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁.
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
Glad to see Northeastern University spotlighting our work on Majority-World #AI governance and why we must act now"
#academicsky #RAI
www.khoury.northeastern.edu/the-fight-to...
And if you have a Bangladeshi colleague or friend, check in on them. The grief is not confined to one place. It has rippled across the world and deep into the diaspora.
Having a hard time processing this: A fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladesh. Most of the injured and deceased are children.
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bangladesh jet crash: What we know about the deadly crash into a Dhaka school
The crash, which killed 27, marks the deadliest aviation disaster the country has seen in decades.
www.bbc.com
July 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
And if you have a Bangladeshi colleague or friend, check in on them. The grief is not confined to one place. It has rippled across the world and deep into the diaspora.
Having a hard time processing this: A fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladesh. Most of the injured and deceased are children.
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bangladesh jet crash: What we know about the deadly crash into a Dhaka school
The crash, which killed 27, marks the deadliest aviation disaster the country has seen in decades.
www.bbc.com
July 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Having a hard time processing this: A fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladesh. Most of the injured and deceased are children.
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This tragedy has left me speechless. Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Lol it me
July 20, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Lol it me
The problem isn’t that ChatGPT uses em dashes. It’s that so many humans still don’t
July 20, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The problem isn’t that ChatGPT uses em dashes. It’s that so many humans still don’t
Or just sheer panic
July 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Or just sheer panic