This perspective describes the influence of interfacial charge transfer-type interactions on the optical spectra and hot electron cooling processes in plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs), and ongoing work to optimize these interactions for charge extraction from the plasmon or hot electron state. The manuscript focuses on interfaces of metal NPs with organic molecules and with semiconductors. Charge extraction from multi-electron excited states has applications in photodetection, sensing, and conversion of solar energy to electricity and fuels.