Name: Michita Imai
Affiliation / Position: Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University
Biography
Michita Imai has been conducting research on Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) since 1991. At IJCAI-99, one of the world’s premier artificial intelligence conferences, he presented a pioneering paper titled “Physical Constraints on Human–Robot Interaction,” which highlighted the essential role of bodily expression in HRI and gained significant international attention. In 2000, he developed the humanoid communication robot Robovie, one of the world’s earliest research robots designed for natural interaction with humans. His influential paper demonstrating that mutual gaze plays a critical role in human–robot communication was published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics (2003; IF=7.5; cited 288 times as of Nov. 2025). Imai has played key leadership roles in the HRI research community, serving as Program Chair for ACM/IEEE HRI 2013, General Chair for ACM/IEEE HRI 2014, and Chair of the ACM/IEEE HRI Steering Committee (2021–2023). His research on wearable communication robots received the Honorable Mention Award (top 5%) at ACM CHI 2012, the most prestigious conference in human–computer interaction. He has also been recognized with the Docomo Mobile Science Award (Social Sciences Division, 2017) for his contributions to HRI research. His early work on migratable personal agents (ITACO system, 1999) introduced a novel user interface concept enabling agents to move across devices, which continues to inspire research worldwide. In recent years, his research has focused on theory of mind modeling using large language models, and communication robots/agents in real-world contexts.
Professional Experience
Current
- Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University (2014.4– )
- Chair, Department of Information and Computer Science, Keio University (2024.4– )
- Visiting Researcher, ATR Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories (2019.10– )
Previous Positions
- Visiting Scholar, University of Chicago (2009.9–2010.9)
- Associate Professor, Keio University (2007.4–2014.3)
- Assistant Professor, Keio University (2005.4–2007.3)
- Lecturer, Keio University (2003.4–2005.3)
- Research Associate, Keio University (2002.4–2003.3)
- Researcher / Visiting Researcher, ATR (1997–2019, multiple appointments)
- Researcher, NTT Human Interface Laboratories (1994.8–1997.3)
- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (1994.4–1994.7)
Awards
- 2017: Docomo Mobile Science Award (Social Sciences Division, Excellence Award)
- 2014: JSAI Best Paper Award
- 2012: ACM CHI 2012 Honorable Mention Award
- 2012: ICAART 2012 Best Paper Award
- 2010: Excellent Paper Award, 27th Ubiquitous Computing Systems Workshop
- 2009: IEEE/ACM HRI 2009 Best Video Award
- 2008: IPSJ Yamauchi Encouragement Award
- 2007: HAI Symposium Outstanding Research Award
- 2006: HAI Symposium Outstanding Research Award
- 2005: DICOMO 2005 Excellent Paper Award
- 1999: JSAI Annual Conference Outstanding Award
Service to Academic Societies
- 2020.9–2022.9: Co-chair, HRI Steering Committee
- 2018.12: General Co-chair, HAI 2018
- 2015.8: Program Chair, IEEE RO-MAN 2015
- 2014.4–2016.3: Chair, IEICE Cloud Network Robotics Research Group
- 2014.3: General Co-chair, IEEE/ACM HRI 2014
- 2013.3: Program Co-chair, IEEE/ACM HRI 2013
Large-Scale Research Projects
- 2019–2025: PI, JST CREST “Computation for Mutual Understanding Based on Joint Estimation of Context and Interpretation”
- 2014–2019: PI, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas “Cognitive Interaction Design” (C02)
- 2009–2014: PI, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas “Human–Robot Symbiosis” (A02-2)
- 2002–2006: JST PRESTO “Intelligence and Interaction”
Review / Advisory Committees
- 2025– : Advisor, JST CREST “Symbiotic AI Interdisciplinary Systems”
- 2017–2023: Advisor, JST PRESTO “Future of Human–Interaction”
Education
-
Ph.D. (Engineering), Keio University (2002)
Dissertation: “Generation of Dialogue Fields in Human–Robot Interaction”
Supervisor: Prof. Yuichiro Anzai - M.S., Computer Science, Keio University (1994)
- B.S., Electrical Engineering, Keio University (1992)
Research Topics
2024
- Research on generating paintings from impression-based text
- Research on password authentication using facial images
2023
- Research on context processing to support missed or unheard speech
- Research on the effects of large language models (LLMs) on writing
- Research on travelogue-generation robots using Meta-LLMs
2022
- Research on context-aware advertisement generation
2021
- Research on automatic generation of cloze-style fill-in-the-blank questions
2020
- Research on deep learning architectures for vision–language models
- Research on editable drawing architectures
- Research on user interfaces that learn arbitrary operation methods
2018
- Research on behavior generation for agents that take another’s perspective
2017
- Research on chameleon effects using synchronized actions
- Research on collaborative robots that consider human workload
- Research on spirit-like migratory agents that move between devices
- Research on mechanisms that integrate intentional and contingent actions
- Research on reinforcement-learning behavior interpretation aligned with human interpretive levels
2016
- Research on adaptive auditory filtering for telepresence robots
- Research on adaptive operation interfaces for powered personal vehicles
2015
- Research on behavior generation for robots that teach humans
2014
- Research on auditory environments for telepresence robots
- Virtual homecoming experiments using shoulder-mounted robots
2013
- Research on robot-arm control using gestures
- Research on relationship control based on Sociological Social Theory (Socion Theory)
2012
- Research on shoulder-mounted robots
- Research on ring-shaped anthropomorphic devices
2011
- Research on robots with spatial-exploration memory
2010
- Research on spontaneous language generation based on growing-point theory
2009
- Research on blog robots
2008
- Research on reaction time in route-guidance robots
- Research on gestures for transport robots
2007
- Research on reaction time in communication robots
2006
- Research on attachable anthropomorphic robots (display robots)
2005
- Research on semantic sensor networks
- Research on PLOT: an omnidirectional audio–visual projection system
- Research on demonstrative-word-based human–robot interaction
2004
- Research on communication robots using staged presentation techniques
2003
- Research on spontaneous attention mechanisms
- Research on route-guidance robots
2000
- Research on robot behaviors that realize joint attention
1999
- Development of the communication robot Robovie
1998
- Research on migratory agents (ITACO robot)
- Research on robots that understand demonstrative words
1997
- Research on spontaneous behavior generation
1995
- Research on multi-participant communication environments
1993
- Research on context-dependent dialogue for robots using attention mechanisms