1st Edition
When Robots Move In Living with Conversational AI in the Home
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Author Bio
Thesis Award
Chapter 1 - The Robots are Already Here
Chapter 2 - Theory and Method: Studying Embodied Interaction
Chapter 3 - Space and Place
Chapter 4 - Time, Fields and Audible-Conversational Space
Chapter 5 - Ownership, Custodianship, and Negotiating Control
Chapter 6 - Human-AI-Brands: The Relationship between Capital, Designer and User
Chapter 7 - Collaborative Interaction and Compassionate Automation
Chapter 8 - Before They Walk In
References
Biography
Dr. Indra Mckie is an Entrepreneur and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, where she investigates trust in digital systems and human-centred approaches to artificial intelligence as part of a Trustworthy Digital Society project on building tech trust in older adults. Her doctoral research on conversational AI and human-computer interaction earned the 2025 Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Doctoral Dissertation Award, and international award recognising significant contributions to information science and technology.
Indra's work bridges rigorous academic research with practical community impact and entrepreneurship. She has founded multiple ventures that apply human-centred design principles to deliver innovative solutions across technology education and community support. Her research has been presented at international conferences and published in leading HCI venues, examining how people negotiate space, control, and meaning when living with AI technologies. She is a 2024 Vogue Code Future Innovators Award winner for her work in technology, creativity and entrepreneurship.
Before entering academia, Indra worked in data analysis and user experience roles in finance and tertiary education, bringing industry perspectives to her scholarly work. She advocates for human-first technology, designing approaches that centre lived experience, cultural context, and social relationships rather than technical capabilities alone. This philosophy shapes her research methodology, her teaching, and her public speaking on responsible AI development. A leader and frequent speaker on conversational and generative AI, domestic robotics, and inclusive technology design, Indra brings accessible explanations of complex technical systems to diverse audiences.
