[3] McCarthy creates artworks that use a variety of media and techniques, including performance, artificial intelligence and programmed computer-based interaction.

[8] In 2017, for her work LAUREN, she installed cameras, microphones and speakers in her apartment, then interacted with visitors by performing the role of assistive technology, similar to Amazon Alexa.

[8] In her collaborative work, Waking Agents, visitors are prompted to lie down and use "smart" pillows that can have conversations, play music, ask the users name, tell stories and be an overall guiding intelligence.

McCarthy wished there was a computer program that could scour through social media profiles and automatically make her friends in real life.

[15] To make this happen, McCarthy employed Amazon Turk workers to comment on OkCupid dates that she secretly recorded and live-streamed.

[16] McCarthy helped create Social Soul, a large installation for the TED Conference with Delta Air Lines and MKG.

To do this they streamed the social media profiles in an immersive 360-degree environment, where the viewer is surrounded by monitors, mirrors and sounds all relating to an individual's specific feed.

[18][19] McCarthy collaborated with Kyle McDonald again in the work How We Act Together, which encourages viewers to follow computer-generated prompts to interact with video persona by nodding, screaming, greeting or making eye contact with the projection.