Donghuo Zeng

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Donghuo Zeng is a researcher at the forefront of human-robot interaction and conversational AI, with a particular focus on socially assistive robotics and open-domain dialogue systems. His work centers on developing companion robots that can engage in natural, empathetic conversation to address modern social challenges, such as the decline in interpersonal communication caused by digital media consumption. Zeng’s major contribution is the creation of KACTUS, an innovative open-domain chatbot designed to power a TV-watching companion robot. This system aims to restore the communal experience of watching television by facilitating meaningful dialogue and shared empathy, counteracting issues like reduced self-control and poor communication skills linked to solitary viewing habits. While his most-cited paper has garnered 2 citations, its conceptual novelty and societal relevance signal a growing interest in using AI to foster human connection. Zeng’s work bridges robotics, natural language processing, and social psychology, offering a promising path toward more interactive and emotionally intelligent machines that can enrich daily life.