Merging humans and machines: Innovation and translation

Xuanhe Zhao, PhD

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstract: Whereas human tissues and organs are mostly soft, wet, and bioactive, machines are commonly hard, dry, and abiotic. Merging humans and machines is of critical importance in addressing grand societal challenges in AI, health, environment, security, education, and happiness in life. However, merging humans and machines is extremely challenging due to their fundamentally contradictory properties. At the MIT Zhao Lab, we invent, study, and translate soft materials and systems to form long-term, robust, non-fibrotic, and high-bandwidth interfaces between humans and machines. In this talk, I will discuss two examples of merging humans and machines by posing two challenges in science and technology:

• Can a wearable device continuously image deep organs throughout the body over several days?
• Can an implantable device avoid inducing a fibrous capsule over many years?

I will conclude the talk with a vision for the future convergence of humans and machines—especially between humans and AI.

Bio: Xuanhe Zhao is the Uncas and Helen Whitaker Professor at MIT. The mission of the MIT Zhao Lab is to advance science and technology at the intersection of humans and machines to address societal challenges in health and sustainability. Dr. Zhao received early career awards from NSF, ONR, ASME, SES, AVS, Adhesion Society, and Materials Today. He is a Humboldt Research Awardee and a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. To translate technologies into societal impacts, he co-founded and/or advised multiple startup companies, including SanaHeal, Magnendo, Sonologi, Orbit, and Pelva. More than 15 patents from the Zhao Lab have been licensed by companies and contributed to FDA-approved and widely used medical devices.