Pat Pataranutaporn •  Cyborg Scientist

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I am a

Cyborg

Scientist

Pat Pataranutaporn, PhD

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Tinkering & Creating.

As a kid, I loved paper mache. Later in life, I got into painting (which I sometimes do with my mom who shares that passion). My office is filled with legos, and even something as simple as building with them is incredibly satisfying. I get a lot of inspiration from working with my hands to create physical things.

Dinosaurs.

My grandparents gave me a dinosaur jigsaw puzzle when I was a baby, and I was fascinated by it. As I got older, my parents encouraged me to explore art and science together, and dinosaurs became a bridge between the two. I would both paint them and also study science books to learn more. I still keep many dinosaur toys and figurines in my office. They keep me inspired to look for both creative and scientific approaches in my work.

Travel Photography.

I love to travel and particularly love finding interesting architecture to photograph. To me, taking pictures allows you to put the world in context, frame by frame, as you see it through the camera lens. When I share these images, it’s about more than a memory. I’m sharing how I see the world.

Animation.

Animation has had a big impact on my life. As a kid, cartoons inspired my interest in science because I saw amazing scientists in the stories doing important things and saving the world. I still love watching animated movies. I enjoy anything by Japanese company, Studio Ghibli. It gives me a sense of calm and peacefulness, especially when I’m stressed or have a lot on my mind.

Disney Parks.

One of my favorite places to visit is theme parks that design immersive worlds for you to explore, like Disneyland, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom. It’s not for the rides... it’s for the atmosphere and storytelling. I love being transported to another world. Environments like these really spark my imagination and inspire me to be bold in my own creativity.

A Little About Me

  • I co-created an upcoming Netflix series.

    The series, called “Tomorrow and I”, explores the intersection of technology and society in the context of Southeast Asia. Beyond being a scientist, I hope to keep creating sci-fi stories that inspire our thinking about the future.

  • My family is very important to me.

    My parents were great role models for being kind-hearted. For example, my dad would always stop to release insects that got stuck, because he believed all life matters. I love going back to Thailand to visit my family.

  • My work and passions are aligned.

    I feel grateful that what I do for a living overlaps so closely with my interests, but it didn’t happen by chance. I have a natural curiosity fed by my research, and a deep desire for exploration that my filmmaking and storytelling satisfy. I’ve built a life around what I wonder and care about, so there are no firm lines between work and play.

  • Experimenting is in my nature.

    My drive to experiment isn’t confined to the lab. For example, during COVID, I started experimenting with cooking. It was difficult, but I think it’s important to constantly push ourselves to try new things and keep discovering.

  • I care a lot about uplifting human imagination.

    As AI continues to influence society, I believe it's crucial to remember that imagination is just as important as knowledge. I spend some of my free time speaking at high schools and universities about the need to nurture our own organic, authentic ways of thinking and expressing ourselves. There’s no reason it can’t co-exist with machines.

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MY ADVICE

“Be creative, but also be critical of the things that we invent.”

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WHO I AM

People describe me as..

  • Bold

    I think it’s really important that we all share our thoughts and experiences with each other. It’s important to me to feel comfortable and confident expressing myself.

  • Futuristic

    I love science fiction, and think it’s exciting to create technologies that blend the magic of possibility with real-world invention.

  • Open-minded

    A big part of my job and personality is to stay open to new possibilities, ideas, and ways of doing things. Experimentation is all about being open to unexpected results.

  • Playful

    I like to have fun! My office is filled with toys and color. I’m always trying new experiences, games, and ways of connecting with others.

  • Kind-hearted

    We should make technology so that we can all have a better life. We have to prioritize looking out for each other. I try to live life with compassion and intention.

My Accomplishments:

2024 – PhD in Media Arts & Sciences, MIT

2023 – TIME The Best Inventions  

2023 – One of the top 10 Fast Company World Changing Ideas  

2023 - Launch an experiment "MicroPET mission" to International Space Station (ISS)  

2022 – Recipient of KBTG Fellowship 

2022 – NASA/SETI/DOE Frontier Development Lab (Heroic Comeback Award)

2020 – Invited Guest Speaker, United Nations (UN) AI for Good  

2020 – Recipient of MIT-NASA TRISH research grant 

2020 - Master of Media Arts & Sciences, MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

2019 – Recipient of MIT Media Lab Element Fellowship 

2015 – Winner of Changemaker Innovation Challenge 

2014 – Winner of Hacks for Humanity 

The Basics:

Pronouns: He/Him

Title: Cyborg Scientist, Human-AI Interaction Researcher

Institution: MIT Media Lab

Expertise: Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Design, Programming, Human-Computer Interaction

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

“To have a full understanding of things: study the art of science and the science of art."

— PAT PATARANUTAPORN
Inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Disario • Illustrator: Erik Suswanto

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