Using knowledge graphs and behaviour trees for feedback-aware presentation agents

Abstract

In this paper, we address the problem of how an interactive agent (such as a robot) can present information to an audience and adapt the presentation according to the feedback it receives. We extend a previous behaviour tree-based model to generate the presentation from a knowledge graph (Wikidata), which allows the agent to handle feedback incrementally, and adapt accordingly. Our main contribution is using this knowledge graph not just for generating the system's dialogue, but also as the structure through which short-term user modelling happens. In an experiment using simulated users and third-party observers, we show that referring expressions generated by the system are rated more highly when they adapt to the type of feedback given by the user, and when they are based on previously grounded information as opposed to new information.