Generative AI and Cultural Creativity

Timeline

2026

Description

A team of students led by researchers in English and Computer Science will investigate a fundamental question about artificial intelligence: can machines be truly creative? Students will design experiments comparing human and AI storytelling, build datasets and computational tools to measure originality and surprise, and explore what current language models reveal about the nature of creativity itself. Through hands-on work in data curation & analysis, machine learning, and cultural interpretation, students will produce open-source resources and research findings that advance our understanding of both AI capabilities and human imagination, with results shared through student-authored publications and presentations at Duke symposia.

View the team's poster here:

Team

Members

Luis Pastor-Valverde, Enqiang (Yutong) Yuan, Fehintoluwa Benson, Susan Li

Leaders

Project Lead: Richard So

Project Manager: Julia Gordon