Dr. Deb Roy
Field of Expertise: Media Arts and Sciences | Human-Machine Communication | Applied Machine Learning | Cognitive Science
Dr. Deb Roy is a Canadian-born scientist and tenured professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he directs the MIT Center for Constructive Communication. His interdisciplinary work bridges cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and media analytics. Dr. Roy gained prominence through the Human Speechome Project, a groundbreaking study that analyzed his son’s language development, leading to innovative insights into language acquisition and media analytics. His TED Talk, “The Birth of a Word,” has garnered over 2.8 million views, showcasing his pioneering research in this area.
Affiliation
- Professor of Media Arts and Sciences, MIT.
- Director, MIT Center for Constructive Communication.
- Co-founder and CEO, Cortico.
- Former Executive Director, MIT Media Lab (2019–2021).
- Former Chief Media Scientist, Twitter (2013–2017).
- Former Visiting Professor, Harvard Law School (2021–2022).
- Board Member, Knight First Amendment Institute.
- Advisory Council Member, FRONTLINE
Current Researches
- Developing computational models to understand and improve human communication.
- Designing systems that facilitate constructive dialogue and bridge societal divides.
- Analyzing large-scale media ecosystems to map and enhance public discourse
- Leading initiatives like the Local Voices Network through Cortico, aiming to surface underrepresented voices in society.
- Study: On Twitter, false news travels faster than true stories
Contributions to Research
Dr. Roy has made significant contributions in several areas:
- Pioneering research in language development through the Human Speechome Project.
- Co-authoring influential studies on the spread of misinformation online, including a notable 2018 Science publication.
- Developing tools and platforms that integrate human and machine communication to foster constructive public discourse.
- Advancing the field of social media analytics through his work with Bluefin Labs and Twitter.
Contact
LinkedIn: Deb Roy
Email: dkroy@media.mit.edu
Website: MIT Media Lab Profile
