A team of researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering are developing new sensing platforms that can infer mental states in real time. Image source: USC CEE.
The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a new emphasis on the way collaborative office environments are designed. Modern workspaces have the potential to shape how people feel and perform, with stress, cognitive overload and distraction reducing both productivity and wellbeing. But what if those workspaces could dynamically adapt based on continuously sensing, interpreting and responding to the mental states of their occupants?
This is the question posed by a new USC research study, led by Burçin Becerik-Gerber, chair of the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, with co-investigators Gale Lucas, research associate professor at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), and Yasser Khan, assistant professor at the USC Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The study, titled “Embodied Intelligence in Smart Workspaces: Bidirectional Sensorimotor Interactions for Stress Reduction,” has received a significant grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and represents a major step forward in human-centered design and introduces a new class of intelligent engineered systems by extending embodied intelligence into the built environment — enabling spaces that continuously sense, interpret and respond to the mental states of their occupants.
The research team brings together multiple areas of expertise. Becerik-Gerber specializes in intelligent built environments, and human-centered engineering. Lucas brings experience in human-computer interaction and adaptive system design to ensure environments respond intuitively to human needs. Khan advances on-device sensing and inference platforms that allow real-time detection of mental states through wearable and environmental data.
“When people think of intelligent engineered systems, they often picture autonomous cars, assistive robots or drones — systems that move, sense and act in the world,” said Becerik-Gerber. “But in this project, we are reimagining buildings themselves as intelligent engineered systems. By embedding embodied intelligence into the spaces where we live and work, we can create environments that continuously adapt to support human wellbeing and performance.”
Uniting environmental sensing with embodied artificial intelligence, the team is building a novel control architecture for personalized adaptations. The project integrates wearable and environmental sensors to detect indicators of mental strain and dynamically adjust conditions such as lighting, acoustics and spatial configuration.
The proposed system incorporates movable partitions and adjustable indoor conditions, enabling workspaces to be reconfigured on demand to minimize distraction, restore focus and promote long-term health. Over time, buildings learn from occupant interactions, creating personalized feedback loops.
“Understanding how humans perceive and interact with adaptive environments is critical,” said Lucas. “Our goal is to ensure that intelligent spaces respond in ways that feel intuitive and supportive, reducing stress while enhancing engagement and collaboration.”
“We are developing new sensing platforms that can infer mental states in real time, enabling built environments to adapt on the spot,” said Khan. “This kind of embodied AI bridges the gap between human experience and engineered systems.”
The project has the potential for wide-reaching societal impact. By expanding intelligent engineered systems to dynamic, human-centered environments, this research sets the stage for a new era of adaptive design that benefits not only workplaces but also classrooms, healthcare facilities, and beyond. It aligns with national priorities on health and productivity, while fostering new educational pathways and public engagement in human-centered design.
“Ultimately, we envision intelligent environments that evolve with their occupants,” said Becerik-Gerber. “By continuously co-adapting with the people inside them, buildings will not only reduce stress but also promote recovery, focus and long-term wellbeing.”
Published on September 26th, 2025
Last updated on September 26th, 2025