About 8Hats Lab
A lab for the operating questions AI agents create.
We research, design, and build how people and AI agents work together: the workflow, the checks, and the decisions people retain.
Mandate
Inspect the work behind the decision.
We work on the questions around AI output: which context was used, what standard applies, who reviews an exception, and who owns the decision.
People
The people building and advising 8Hats Lab.
Technology, behavioral science, management, education, and psychology in one team.
01
Founders
Building the research, products, and day-to-day work of the Lab.
Co-founder · Trust framework and AI agent methodology
Develops the technical architecture behind AI agent learning and evaluation.
25+ years in EdTech and AI. Built CourseFactory, acquired by Smartcat. Chaired the technology committee of the National Platform of Open Education, used by 2.7 million learners, and was a Coursera content partner.
02
Academic Council
Independent perspective on learning design, psychology, and institutional adoption.
Academic Council · Education science
Advises on institutional learning design and adoption.
Senior Director of Digital Innovation at Arizona State University's University Design Institute. Led ASU's adaptive learning initiatives, where College Algebra pass rates rose from 57% to 79%. Harvard MPP; WCET Sally M. Johnstone Award and IMS Global Leadership Award.
Academic Council · Psychology and learning
Irina Zingerman, PhD
Advises on the human side of working and learning with AI.
Process-oriented psychologist in practice since 1994.
A working model of trust.
Our research examines alignment, reliability, and the evidence people need to decide whether to rely on AI work.
How the Lab works
One discipline, three forms of output.
- 01
Research
Develop and publish methods, datasets, and bounded findings on alignment, reliability, and organizational learning.
Open research - 02
Consulting
Put AI agents to work on one job from your own week, with the people who decide in the room, and judge the result before committing to more.
Open consulting - 03
Products
Build systems for shared organizational knowledge, controlled human–AI work, and AI agent education.
Open products
People and collaboration
The work crosses research, organization design, and applied AI.
Meet the people responsible for it, or bring one specific workflow or research question.