Press & Biography Kit

Hanna Zhu is a Melbourne-based founder-researcher working across Somatic AI, human–AI co-creation, embodied movement and generative visual storytelling.

Approximately 50 words

Hanna Zhu is a Melbourne-based artist, researcher and creative-technology founder working across Somatic AI, human–AI co-creation and generative visual storytelling. She is a practice-led PhD researcher at Swinburne University of Technology, Co-Founder and CEO of Zero Tech, Founder of Zero AI Studio, and Human Architect and Researcher at Somatic-AI Lab.

Approximately 100 words

Hanna Zhu is a Melbourne-based artist, researcher and creative-technology founder whose work connects Somatic AI, embodied movement and generative visual storytelling. She is a practice-led PhD researcher at Swinburne University of Technology, Co-Founder and CEO of Zero Tech, Founder and Creative Director of Zero AI Studio, and Human Architect and Researcher at Somatic-AI Lab—an independent solo research initiative. Her work spans research, moving-image art and accessible creative tools while preserving human creative agency. Earlier professional records may use Han Zhu; selected artworks are credited to Hanna Z.

Approximately 300 words

Hanna Zhu is a Melbourne-based artist, researcher and creative-technology founder working at the intersection of Somatic AI, human–AI co-creation, embodied movement and generative visual storytelling. She is a practice-led PhD researcher at Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Transformative Media, Co-Founder and CEO of Zero Tech, Founder and Creative Director of Zero AI Studio, and Human Architect and Researcher at Somatic-AI Lab—an independent solo research initiative advancing Somatic AI and embodied human–AI interaction.

Her practice-based research explores how generative systems can extend dance and moving-image art while remaining accountable to embodied affect, cultural intent and human creative agency. Her research-creation project ZAGHAREED investigates how AI can transform and continue human movement without treating the body as a replaceable source of data.

Before her current research and ventures, Hanna built a cross-sector career in analytics and digital products. She worked in people analytics at Walmart and Tesla, led a team of more than 40 people as Head of Intelligent Data Platform at Vanke, and later served as Analytics Leader at ByteDance, developing end-to-end B2B product analysis and coordinating optimization across product, operations and R&D. From 2021 to 2024, she was Co-Founder and COO of BOOLV Tech, overseeing AIGC product development and market operations.

Her academic foundation combines mathematics, psychology and statistics. She holds a Master of Science in Statistics, Measurement and Research Technology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science with distinctions in Mathematics and Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her current work moves between scholarship, experimental film and product development, guided by the proposition that AI should deepen human creativity rather than erase the body from the creative process. Earlier professional records may use Han Zhu, while selected creative work is published as Hanna Z.