Boyd Branch

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About

Boyd Branch is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of artificial intelligence, human-robot interaction, and the performing arts. Their work focuses on designing and evaluating conversational agents for co-creative improvisation, exploring how Large Language Models (LLMs) can engage in real-time, multi-party dialogue within theatrical settings. Branch’s major contribution lies in bridging the gap between social robotics and live performance, demonstrating how AI can serve as an active, collaborative partner in creative expression. Their landmark study, "Designing and Evaluating Dialogue LLMs for Co-Creative Improvised Theatre" (2024, 2 citations), involved deploying LLMs in a month-long live show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe—a groundbreaking real-world evaluation that pushed the boundaries of human-AI interaction. Branch also delves into the philosophical and ethical dimensions of this work, as seen in "Artificial theatres of the absurd" (2024, 1 citation), which examines how co-creative gestures with AI invoke the ethical theatre of the absurd. By positioning human creativity in relation to an uncaring, passive intelligence, Branch challenges conventional notions of agency and authorship. Their interdisciplinary approach, blending AI research with live performance, offers a compelling vision for the future of human-machine collaboration.