By Ayo Onikoyi

Writing code in pairs can be tough—especially in remote collaborative environments. But Dr. Solomon Ubani, a former Ph.D. student at the University of North Texas, USA, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to help people collaborate more effectively and respectfully in remote tech environments.

Dr. Ubani, who is currently an AI scientist at Intuit and served as a lecturer at San Diego State University in 2024, has developed groundbreaking tools that tackle common challenges in team-based software development, such as micromanagement and exclusionary language. His research is helping reshape how programmers—and potentially all remote workers—interact when working together online.

One of Dr. Ubani’s key innovations is a tool called CollabAssist, designed to support students and professionals during remote pair programming—a method where two people work together on the same code in real time.

CollabAssist acts like a virtual assistant during video calls, gently detecting and responding to moments of micromanagement. If one person dominates the session or gives too many commands, the system offers subtle prompts like “Ask for opinions” or “Think collaboratively.”

In classroom studies conducted among undergraduates in a tier one research university in the United States, teams using CollabAssist saw a 24% drop in micromanaging behavior. “Sometimes, all it takes is a small reminder at the right moments to encourage better habits,” said Dr. Ubani. “This helps people collaborate, not control.”

In a separate study, Dr. Ubani tackled the issue of exclusive language—phrases like “I’ll handle it” or “You need to fix that”—which can make a partner feel left out. His research led to the first automated system that can recognize whether someone is using inclusive or exclusive language during team conversations.

By adopting large language models (LLM), the tool can flag communication that may unintentionally exclude a teammate and encourage more collaborative language.

While the technology behind these systems is complex, Dr. Ubani’s mission is clear: help people work better together. His work shows how AI can play a positive role in fostering teamwork, not just by solving problems, but by improving the way people treat each other.

“These tools aren’t just about writing better code,” said Dr. Ubani. “They’re about creating environments where everyone feels included and heard.”

With a growing emphasis on remote work and digital collaboration, Dr. Ubani’s research has timely relevance.

As both an AI expert in the industry an educator in academia, he continues to bridge the gap between advanced technology and everyday human connection.