RAixB Bridge Program: Connecting HCI and AI across Borders (CHAI) @ AAAI 2027

We're proposing a 2-day bridge program at the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-27), which will be held in Montréal, Québec, Canada, from February 16-23, 2027. 

The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) is the premier scientific society dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of intelligent behaviour, its embodiment in machines, and the interactivity between machines and more-than-humans in society. The Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI) is the leading international community of students and professionals interested in research, education, and practical applications of Human-Computer Interaction and related fields. 

Using the theme of CHAI (Connecting HCI and AI across Borders), we build on existing engagement within SIGCHI and AAAI to connect structural pipelines between Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) as fields "divided by common focus": empowerment of human agency and the sustainment of nature. As Jonathan Grudin argues regarding the powerhouses of SIGCHI and AAAI, “conference events intended to bridge HCI and AI…never happened” (2019, p.52)...not surprisingly, bridging within HCI appears to be difficult partly due to a maturity divide across communities. Our bridging program is another attempt to bridge existing bridges within HCI and AI.  

Our two-day bridge will include a mix of keynotes, light talks, panel discussions, hands-on sessions, poster sessions, and a networking/outreach event. We particularly welcome researchers and practitioners who might be underrepresented within AAAI or ACMSIGCHI to showcase their interdisciplinary work, cross-fertilise ideas, and build networks. (More details to come)