Manni Cheung

With a background in Computer Science and Cultural Studies, Manni developed a strong interest in critical pedagogy and how it can bridge technical and educational domains with cultural and socio-technical theory. Manni’s work investigates how culture, power, and identity shape, and are shaped by, technologies, particularly within the contexts of computing education and artificial intelligence. Before relocating to the UK, Manni worked as a research assistant on educational projects at The Education University of Hong Kong and with the Hong Kong Studies programme at the University of Hong Kong.

Their research focuses on the ethical, social, and cultural implications of AI, with a particular emphasis on racial, gender, and cultural bias in Human-AI Interaction. Drawing on socio-technical perspectives and cultural theories, Manni's work explores how marginalised experiences can (or cannot) inform more equitable AI. This interdisciplinary practice draws on their training in HCI and Cultural Studies, as well as migration-focused research on the Hong Kong diaspora.

Manni is an Alistair Harvey Foundation Scholar and a former HSBC Scholar, and is currently affiliated with the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre here at Cambridge.

Research

1. Socio-technical bias in AI

   Exploring how race, gender, and cultural identity intersect with algorithmic design and deployment.

2. Critical computing education and pedagogy

   Investigating inclusive, justice-oriented approaches to computing education, particularly for under-represented communities.

3. Human-Computer Interaction and affective technologies

   Examining how users emotionally engage with intelligent systems and how this shapes interaction, learning, and agency.

4. Cultural and political dimensions of technology

   Analysing how cultural narratives, power structures, and diasporic identities influence technological development and interpretation.

5. Hong Kong diaspora and digital belonging

   Studying the lived experiences of migration and transnational identity through the lens of media, data, and digital infrastructures.