Open AI, Human Trust: How Free Software Shapes the Way People Experience Modern AI
MCLD 3002 | Sat 08 Aug 3 p.m.–3:45 p.m.
Presented by
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Samira
https://www.cis.fiu.edu/faculty-staff/zad-samira/
Samira Zad is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Florida International University (FIU), where she teaches a range of courses in computer science, including programming, machine learning, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence. She has a PhD in Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning and has been teaching at the university level for several years, with a strong focus on applied computing and student-centered instruction.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she mentors students through academic and research initiatives. Her mentorship work emphasizes research development, technical skill-building, and professional growth for undergraduate and graduate scholars.
Her academic interests lie in machine learning, NLP, and AI-driven systems, with an emphasis on real-world applications of data-driven methods. She is also engaged in interdisciplinary education efforts and supports student projects that connect artificial intelligence with social and practical impact.
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Kianoosh Boroojeni, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences at Florida International University. His work focuses on generative AI in computer science education, natural language processing, machine learning, computer networks, and cybersecurity. He has authored more than 50 scientific publications and has received over 1,150 Google Scholar citations.
At FIU, Dr. Boroojeni has led curriculum modernization efforts that meaningfully integrate generative AI into undergraduate computer science education. He chaired the CS Subcommittee of the Undergraduate Program Committee and helped design new course pathways that prepare students for modern software development, AI-assisted workflows, and responsible computing. He has also collaborated with Google through initiatives such as Google Tech Exchange, where he piloted a software engineering course with embedded generative AI workflows.
His recent work includes research on human-AI interaction in programming education, LLM-based summarization, LLM quantization, and question-answering systems. At FOSSY 2026, he will discuss how free and open-source software powers the modern AI ecosystem.
Samira
https://www.cis.fiu.edu/faculty-staff/zad-samira/
Samira Zad is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Florida International University (FIU), where she teaches a range of courses in computer science, including programming, machine learning, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence. She has a PhD in Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning and has been teaching at the university level for several years, with a strong focus on applied computing and student-centered instruction.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she mentors students through academic and research initiatives. Her mentorship work emphasizes research development, technical skill-building, and professional growth for undergraduate and graduate scholars.
Her academic interests lie in machine learning, NLP, and AI-driven systems, with an emphasis on real-world applications of data-driven methods. She is also engaged in interdisciplinary education efforts and supports student projects that connect artificial intelligence with social and practical impact.
Kianoosh Boroojeni, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences at Florida International University. His work focuses on generative AI in computer science education, natural language processing, machine learning, computer networks, and cybersecurity. He has authored more than 50 scientific publications and has received over 1,150 Google Scholar citations.
At FIU, Dr. Boroojeni has led curriculum modernization efforts that meaningfully integrate generative AI into undergraduate computer science education. He chaired the CS Subcommittee of the Undergraduate Program Committee and helped design new course pathways that prepare students for modern software development, AI-assisted workflows, and responsible computing. He has also collaborated with Google through initiatives such as Google Tech Exchange, where he piloted a software engineering course with embedded generative AI workflows.
His recent work includes research on human-AI interaction in programming education, LLM-based summarization, LLM quantization, and question-answering systems. At FOSSY 2026, he will discuss how free and open-source software powers the modern AI ecosystem.
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now part of everyday life, from recommendation systems and chatbots to healthcare tools and search engines. However, many people Artificial Intelligence is increasingly shaping how people search for information, write, learn, work, make decisions, and interact with digital systems. Yet for many end users, AI can still feel like a mysterious black box. This talk explains how Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) helps make modern AI more understandable, trustworthy, and usable from a human-centered perspective.
Rather than focusing on advanced technical details, this session looks at AI through the lens of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): How do people experience AI systems? What makes an AI tool feel transparent, reliable, fair, or confusing? Why does openness matter when users are asked to trust systems that influence everyday decisions?
We will introduce how open-source tools, frameworks, models, datasets, and communities support the AI technologies people encounter every day, including chatbots, recommendation systems, search tools, writing assistants, and educational applications. We will also discuss how FOSS can improve transparency, accessibility, accountability, and user agency by allowing communities to inspect, adapt, evaluate, and improve AI systems.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how open-source software powers modern AI and why human-centered design, trust, and openness are essential for building AI systems that serve people well.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now part of everyday life, from recommendation systems and chatbots to healthcare tools and search engines. However, many people Artificial Intelligence is increasingly shaping how people search for information, write, learn, work, make decisions, and interact with digital systems. Yet for many end users, AI can still feel like a mysterious black box. This talk explains how Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) helps make modern AI more understandable, trustworthy, and usable from a human-centered perspective. Rather than focusing on advanced technical details, this session looks at AI through the lens of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): How do people experience AI systems? What makes an AI tool feel transparent, reliable, fair, or confusing? Why does openness matter when users are asked to trust systems that influence everyday decisions?
We will introduce how open-source tools, frameworks, models, datasets, and communities support the AI technologies people encounter every day, including chatbots, recommendation systems, search tools, writing assistants, and educational applications. We will also discuss how FOSS can improve transparency, accessibility, accountability, and user agency by allowing communities to inspect, adapt, evaluate, and improve AI systems.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how open-source software powers modern AI and why human-centered design, trust, and openness are essential for building AI systems that serve people well.