I am an MPhil student in Computational Media and Arts at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), advised by Prof. Mingming Fan and Prof. Chen Liang. I previously studied Data Journalism at the Communication University of China.
My research interests span human–AI interaction and human–robot interaction. I study how people interpret and respond to intelligent systems in social contexts, and how those systems may shape human understanding, behavior, and decisions. I combine human-centered studies with computational methods and interactive prototypes.
Current research
Human–AI interaction. In ContextInk, I study how free-form annotations can remain useful as readers’ questions evolve. I am also interested in how AI-mediated information and sustained interaction with AI may affect people’s thinking and choices.
Human–robot interaction. My MPhil project studies collaboration with a soft floating robot in indoor inspection tasks. More broadly, I am interested in how embodied robots enter shared spaces and existing social relationships, and how context and cultural expectations shape those encounters.
Context-aware interaction. I have worked on a survey of wake-up systems and on models of interaction intent, examining how systems decide when and how to engage with people.
Education
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Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)MPhil in Computational Media and ArtsSep. 2025 – Present
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Communication University of ChinaB.A. in Data JournalismSep. 2021 – Jun. 2025outstanding thesis
Experience
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State Key Laboratory of Media Convergence and CommunicationResearch InternJan. 2024 – Jun. 2025
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Caixin Media Company Ltd. VisLabData Reporting InternAug. 2023 – Nov. 2023
Selected Research Outputs (view all )
ContextInk: Making Free-Form Annotations Reusable in AI-Supported Active Reading
Yantong Liu*, Xinyu Gai*, Mingyuan Qin, Mingming Fan (* equal contribution)
Manuscript under review
An AI-supported reading system that connects free-form annotations to source passages and lets readers revisit and revise their interpretations as questions evolve. Yantong Liu and Xinyu Gai contributed equally.
ContextInk: Making Free-Form Annotations Reusable in AI-Supported Active Reading
Yantong Liu*, Xinyu Gai*, Mingyuan Qin, Mingming Fan (* equal contribution)
Manuscript under review
An AI-supported reading system that connects free-form annotations to source passages and lets readers revisit and revise their interpretations as questions evolve. Yantong Liu and Xinyu Gai contributed equally.
A Survey of Advances in Wake-Up Systems: Toward Context Awareness, Multimodality, and Personalization
Zihong He*, Yantong Liu*, Yuhui Zheng*, Chun Yu, Chen Liang, Yuanchun Shi, Hai-Ning Liang (* equal contribution)
Revised manuscript under review
A synthesis of 116 publications on context-aware, multimodal, and personalized wake-up systems. Zihong He, Yantong Liu, and Yuhui Zheng contributed equally.
A Survey of Advances in Wake-Up Systems: Toward Context Awareness, Multimodality, and Personalization
Zihong He*, Yantong Liu*, Yuhui Zheng*, Chun Yu, Chen Liang, Yuanchun Shi, Hai-Ning Liang (* equal contribution)
Revised manuscript under review
A synthesis of 116 publications on context-aware, multimodal, and personalized wake-up systems. Zihong He, Yantong Liu, and Yuhui Zheng contributed equally.
POReviewer: A Visualization System for Retrospective Public Opinion Analysis
Zeyu Li, Manlu Zhou, Yantong Liu, Changchang Ye, Xiaomeng Zhou, Jiawan Zhang
Journal of Visualization 2026
POReviewer: A Visualization System for Retrospective Public Opinion Analysis
Zeyu Li, Manlu Zhou, Yantong Liu, Changchang Ye, Xiaomeng Zhou, Jiawan Zhang
Journal of Visualization 2026
MindWeaver: Scaffolding Critical Thinking Through Structure-Mediated Human–AI Collaboration
Qing Shi, Yilin Zheng, Yantong Liu, Luyao Shen, Ran Li, Xuning Zhang, Yi-Lung Kuo, Mingming Fan
Manuscript under review
MindWeaver: Scaffolding Critical Thinking Through Structure-Mediated Human–AI Collaboration
Qing Shi, Yilin Zheng, Yantong Liu, Luyao Shen, Ran Li, Xuning Zhang, Yi-Lung Kuo, Mingming Fan
Manuscript under review
Reflectant: Supporting Reflection on Multi-Source Information through Self-Representation in Multi-Agent Discussions
Zhiyuan Xia, Zhuoyang Jiang, Yantong Liu, Chao Liu, Zhuofan Ruan, Mingming Fan
Manuscript under review
Reflectant: Supporting Reflection on Multi-Source Information through Self-Representation in Multi-Agent Discussions
Zhiyuan Xia, Zhuoyang Jiang, Yantong Liu, Chao Liu, Zhuofan Ruan, Mingming Fan
Manuscript under review
Publications and manuscripts
Academic Exchange & Service
- Session Moderator, AI Support for Learning, Recall & Performance, GBA HCI Pre-CHI 2026
- Presenter, fast-forward talk and poster, ChinaVis 2024, Hong Kong, Jul. 2024