This ASU professor worked with AI before it was cool

June 20, 2026 - 06:23

Long before artificial intelligence became a common tool in offices and factories, Nancy Cooke was already asking how people and smart machines could work together. Now a professor of human systems engineering at Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Cooke is considered a pioneer in team cognition and human-AI teaming. Her research over the past few decades helped lay the groundwork for the AI systems that are now used everywhere, from inventory-counting agents and code-writing assistants to unmanned aerial vehicles.

Cooke's work focuses on how humans and AI can collaborate effectively, rather than just having machines replace people. She studies the dynamics of teams that include both human and artificial members, looking at trust, communication, and shared decision-making. Her insights have become more relevant as companies rush to integrate AI into their operations.

The professor's early interest in these questions put her ahead of the curve. While many researchers were focused on AI's technical capabilities, Cooke concentrated on the human side of the equation. Her findings help explain why some human-AI teams succeed while others fail, and they continue to shape how engineers design AI systems that are truly useful to people.