January 2026 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

PhD & Postdoctoral Jobs University of Zurich
by mjz 30 Jan '26

30 Jan '26

Dear Air-L members, I am writing to share several open PhD and postdoctoral positions within a newly funded project: https://www.ikmz.uzh.ch/en/research/divisions/computational-social-and-comm… The project investigates toxic visual content, with particular emphasis on (1) misogyny, (2) AI-generated misinformation, and (3) propaganda. The positions are based at the Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich. Please note that candidates must be able to relocate to Zurich, as fully remote arrangements are not available. You can find more information and apply directly through the links below: *PhD positions:* https://jobs.uzh.ch/job-vacancies/doctoral-positions-in-computational-visua… *Postdoctoral positions:* https://jobs.uzh.ch/job-vacancies/postdoctoral-positions-in-researching-tox… Earliest start date: July 1, 2026 (flexible; can be extended to early 2027) I will begin reviewing applications in February, but the positions will remain open until filled. If you have any specific questions about the positions, please contact me ( j.zeng(a)ikmz.uzh.ch) ------------------------------ Meg Jing Zeng Assistant Professor of Computational Communication Science University of Zurich *https://www.ikmz.uzh.ch/en/department/people/professors/jing-zeng.html <https://www.ikmz.uzh.ch/en/department/people/professors/jing-zeng.html>*

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The Annual ACM Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI 2026): Call for Participation
by Announce 30 Jan '26

30 Jan '26

*** Call for Participation *** The Annual ACM Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI 2026) March 23-26, 2026, 5* Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, Paphos, Cyprus https://iui.hosting.acm.org/2026/ (*** Early Registration Deadline: February 13, 2026 ***) The 2026 ACM Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (ACM IUI) is the annual premier venue, where researchers and practitioners meet and discuss state-of-the-art advances at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Ideal IUI submissions should address practical HCI challenges using machine intelligence and discuss both computational and human-centric aspects of such methodologies, techniques and systems. This year we had a record number of submissions, so we have a record number of accepted papers (114), a record number of posters and demos (53) and we hope for a record number of participants. Furthermore, we have 8 workshops and 5 tutorials. Finally, the technical program will feature two keynotes, by Antonio Kruger on the role of HCI in trusted A.I. and Pattie Maes on designing A.I. interaction for human flourishing. The detailed program of IUI 2026 can be found on the conference website: https://iui.acm.org/2026/program/ . The early registration deadline is on February 13th and the registration page is: https://iui.acm.org/2026/registration/ We are looking forward to meeting everybody in Paphos. Organisation General Chairs • Tsvi Kuflik, The University of Haifa, Israel • Styliani Kleanthous, Open University of Cyprus, Cyprus Local Organising Chair • George A. Papadopoulos, University of Cyprus, Cyprus Program Chairs • Li Chen, Hong Kong Baptist University, China • Giulio Jacucci, University of Helsinki, Finland • Alison Renner, Dataminr, USA

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Big Data Discourses | International Journal of Communication Special Section
by Christian Pentzold 30 Jan '26

30 Jan '26

Dear AoiR community, Happy to share that the Special Section of the International Journal of Communication on big data discourses and their societal implications is out and free to download. Edited by Charlotte Knorr and Christian Pentzold. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc Big data discourses are integral to how we come to understand and engage with datafication. This Special Section explores the semantics of big data in contemporary society, weaving together three central themes: materiality, emerging technologies, and sensemaking around datafication. Across the contributions, the section interrogates how communication, imagination, and social practices shape—and are shaped by—the expanding landscape of data-driven innovation. The Special Section brings together the following contributions: • A Model of Frame Categories for Analyzing Media Discourse of Emerging Technologies Emma Kaylee Graves-Sandriman • Reframing Datafication: News Media Discourses on Big Data and AI Maria Cristina Paganoni & Gastón Becerra • Ask Me Anything! ◕‿◕ – How ChatGPT Got Hyped Into Being Jascha Bareis • Curating AI Into Being: Hacks/Hackers as Amplifiers of Journalism’s Digital Futures Andreas Hepp • Data Feelings: Everyday Affects and Sensory Dimensions of Personal Digital Data Ash Watson & Deborah Lupton • Aesthetics of Boundless Insight: On the Scalar Ideology of the Data Imaginary Magdalena Krysztoforska & Oliver Kenny • A New Source of the Self? A Critical View on the Domestication of Data Jun Yu • Deceptive Stories About Scale: Digital Technology, Public Services, and the Promise of Efficiency Alison B. Powell • Data in India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): A Deliberative Policy Ecology Approach Preeti Raghunath • Toward Disability Data Justice: A Critical Discussion of Disability and Big Data Discourses Kuansong Victor Zhuang & Gerard Goggin • Cultural Motifs of Big Data in User-Generated Content: A Semiautomated Analysis of 10 Years of Discourse Charlotte Knorr, Andreas Niekler & Christian Pentzold Together, the articles offer interdisciplinary perspectives grounded in empirical research and critical theory, illuminating the evolving relationship between technology, discourse, and meaning-making in the digital age. All best, Christian — Professor Dr. Christian Pentzold Geschäftsführender Direktor | Managing Director Institut für Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft | Department for Communication and Media Studies Universität Leipzig | Leipzig University Nikolaistrasse 27-29, D-04109 Leipzig christian.pentzold(a)uni-leipzig.de https://www.sozphil.uni-leipzig.de/institut-fuer-kommunikations-und-medienw…

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Springer Special Issue: Trust in AI vs Human Experts: Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Perspectives
by Diletta Huyskes 29 Jan '26

29 Jan '26

Dear all,<https://link.springer.com/collections/iigdgbbdbg?utm_source=rh&utm_medium=r…> I'm writing because I would be very interested if there's anyone here working on topics related to this special issue of Discover Psychology<https://link.springer.com/journal/44202>: https://link.springer.com/collections/iigdgbbdbg?utm_source=rh&utm_medium=r…. As a sociologist, this is a topic that interests me greatly and I've measured it in my empirical research, but for months I have been looking for colleagues in psychology or cognitive science who work on automation bias to collaborate with. Perhaps you know someone, or are even already working on a submission for this journal? Attached also the description: As AI systems become increasingly embedded in high-stakes decision-making, from medical diagnoses to financial advice, understanding how people trust AI relative to human experts is crucial. Psychological research reveals mixed patterns. On one hand, many individuals exhibit algorithm aversion, showing reluctance to rely on algorithmic decisions and preferring human judgment even when an algorithm consistently outperforms human experts. People tend to lose confidence in an AI system quickly after it makes a mistake, becoming less likely to choose it over an arguably inferior human advisor. On the other hand, under certain conditions, studies document algorithm appreciation, where people sometimes put more weight on advice if they believe it came from an AI rather than from a person. For instance, lay participants adhered more strongly to advice labeled as coming from an algorithm in tasks requiring objective analysis. In more subjective or personal domains (such as healthcare or hiring decisions), however, trust often shifts back toward human experts, people fear an AI might overlook personal nuances, and they value the empathy and individualized understanding of a human advisor. These contrasts suggest that trust in AI vs. humans is highly context-dependent, with cognitive and emotional factors moderating people’s openness to algorithmic guidance. This collection of Discover Psychology, titled “Trust in Artificial Intelligence vs Human Experts: Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Perspectives,” invites submissions that delve into the psychological mechanisms and boundary conditions of trust in AI-based versus human expert decision-making. Thanks! Diletta *** Dr. Diletta Huyskes Ph.D. in Sociology and Methodology of Social Research Postdoctoral Researcher Research Center for the Philosophy of Technology (PhilTech), University of Milan Affiliated Researcher Data School, Utrecht University

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SWING – School on Internet Governance 20-24 April 2026 @ Bruges (Belgium)
by Mauro SANTANIELLO 29 Jan '26

29 Jan '26

Dear colleagues, apologies for the cross-posting—please circulate the following call through your channels. Thank you. Best wishes, Mauro :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: *SWING – School on Internet Governance 2026* will take place in Bruges, Belgium, from 20 to 24 April 2026. Hosted by the *United Nations University* Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS), SWING is designed for *graduate students, early-career researchers, ICT professionals, policymakers*, and anyone interested in the field. The program aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of the actors, processes, and policy challenges, shaping the* governance of the internet and digital technologies*. Through a combination of expert-led lectures, seminars and interactive group work, participants collaboratively analyse key governance issues and develop policy recommendations to be presented during the program’s final sessions. *SWING 2026 Theme: Digital Sovereignty* The 2026 edition will focus on Digital Sovereignty — a timely and fast-evolving concept at the crossroads of Internet governance, geopolitics, economics, innovation, and fundamental rights. *Key Dates* 13 February 2026 — Application deadline, including fee payment 20–24 April 2026 — SWING 2026 (Bruges, UNU-CRIS) *Core Seminars and Lectures* - Introduction to Digital Sovereignty (seminar) with *Jamal Shahin* - VUB, UVA, UNU-CRIS; *Julia Pohle* - WZB Berlin; *Sophie Hoogenboom* - UNU-CRIS, VUB. - From Governance to Sovereignty (seminar) with *Jamal Shahin* - VUB, UVA, UNU-CRIS; *Mauro Santaniello *- University of Salerno; *Julia Pohle* - WZB Berlin. - EuroStack: European Digital Sovereignty (seminar) with *Paul Timmers* - University of Oxford, European University Cyprus, KU Leuven; *Niels ten Oever* - University of Amsterdam; more TBA - Digital Sovereignty and Competitiveness with *Orsolya Gulyas* - Brussels School of Governance - Digital Sovereignty and Fundamental Rights with *Marianne Franklin* - University of Groningen. - Indigenous Data Sovereignty with *Claudia Padovani* - University of Padova. - Digital Sovereignty and Undersea Cables with *Kavé Salamatian* - Polytech Annecy-Chambéry. - Digital Sovereignty and Semiconductors with *Linda Monsees* - Institute of International Relations Prague. - Digital Sovereignty and Artificial Intelligence with *Nicola Palladino* - University of Salerno. - Digital Sovereignty and LEOs (Low Earth Orbit satellites) with *Berna Akçalı Gür* - Queen Mary University of London, UNU-CRIS. - Internet Governance: Conflicts and Cooperation with *Jan Aart Scholte *- Leiden University. - The Geopolitics of Digital Sovereignty (seminar) with *Kseniia Ermoshina* - CNRS, France; *Grace X. Yang* - Freie Universität Berlin; more TBA. *Registration* To register, applicants will be asked to submit: - Curriculum Vitae (CV) - Completed application form (template <https://cris.unu.edu/sites/cris.unu.edu/files/SWING_2026_Registration_Form%…> ) - Copy of a valid ID document (passport or national identity card) - Proof of payment of the participation fee (receipt/confirmation) *Participation Fee and What It Covers* The participation fee is 800,00 € and includes: - Registration costs - Meals provided during the School programme - Social event(s) The participation fee does not include: - Accommodation Although students are required to provide for their own accommodation, SWING has an agreement with a local hotel that is willing to provide a reduced fare for the students of the school. Details will be provided after a successful registration. - Dinners *Scientific CommitteeCo-directors: *Mauro Santaniello (University of Salerno, UNU-CRIS) and Jamal Shahin (VUB, UVA, UNU-CRIS). *Scientific Advisory Board: *Andrea Beccalli (ICANN), Dennis Broeders (Leiden University), Edoardo Celeste (Dublin City University), Philippe De Lombaerde (UNU-CRIS), Sophie Hoogenboom (UNU-CRIS, VUB), Robin Mansell (London School of Economics), Francesca Musiani (CNRS), Nicola Palladino (University of Salerno), Dennis Redeker (University of Bremen) and Riccardo Nanni (CNRS). *Organizing Committee: *Sophie Hoogenboom (UNU-CRIS, VUB), Carlos Andres Fonseca Diaz (Ghent University, UNU-CRIS), Armando Antonio Ferrara (University of Salerno), Chiara Spiniello (University of Salerno) and Stephanie Teeuwen (VUB). *More information on the programme, faculty and registration*: https://cris.unu.edu/swing-school-on-internet-governance

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The Social Codes of Tech Workers, Book Talk with Robert Dorschel
by Rafael Do Nascimento Grohmann 29 Jan '26

29 Jan '26

Hi AoIR, DigiLabour invites you to this online book talk with Robert Dorschel (University of Cambridge) on The Social Codes of Tech Workers: Class Identity in Digital Capitalism, published by MIT Press. It will take place on February 5, 9am ET, on DigiLabour YouTube Channel. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5j_bpnzKIQ After the talk, there will be two discussants: Helena Wright (University of Toronto) and Kenzo Seto (Yale University) Description Digital technologies shape nearly every aspect of our lives. Yet little attention has been paid to the tech workers who design and program these technologies. Instead, the spotlight often falls on two extremes: the elite class of tech entrepreneurs and the precarious digital proletariat of gig and crowd workers. This narrow focus has left a critical gap in understanding the middle-class professionals operating behind the scenes of digital capitalism. Drawing on over 50 original interviews and discourse analytical research conducted in the US and Germany, The Social Codes of Tech Workers takes readers deep into their hearts and minds. Robert Dorschel demonstrates how tech workers’ subjectivity is structured by a return of social critique, hybrid professional roles, and distinctive lifestyles. The book identifies tech workers as a contradictory class formation, oscillating between a spirit of emancipation and yet another spirit of capitalism. This work will appeal to scholars across disciplines concerned with digital labor, identity, and class, as well as to the broader public interested in the culture of the tech industry and the evolving future of work. You can read the book in open access here: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262553537/the-social-codes-of-tech-workers/ best, Rafael -- dr. Rafael Grohmann Assistant Professor of Media Studies Department of Arts, Culture and Media<https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/acm/rafael-grohmann> Faculty of Information<https://ischool.utoronto.ca/profile/rafael-grohmann/> University of Toronto Leader, DigiLabour<https://digilabour.com.br/> Research Associate, University of Oxford<https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/profiles/rafael-grohmann/> Founding Editor, Platforms & Society<https://journals.sagepub.com/home/PNS> Principal Investigator, Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms (WOIP)<https://digilabour.com.br/worker-owned-intersectional-platforms-woip/> Co-Lead, Creative Labour and Critical Futures (CLCF)<https://criticaldigitalmethods.ca/creative-labour-critical-futures/> Researcher, AI Policy Observatory for the World of Work<https://www.essex.ac.uk/research-projects/ai-policy-observatory-for-the-wor…> Senior Fellow, Massey College<https://www.masseycollege.ca/> Faculty Affiliate, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society<https://srinstitute.utoronto.ca/> <https://srinstitute.utoronto.ca/>

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NordiCHI 2026 - 2nd Call for Submissions
by Laura Havinen 28 Jan '26

28 Jan '26

2nd Call for Submissions for NordiCHI 2026 in Vaasa, Finland, October 3-7, 2026 **Apologies for cross-postings** We are delighted to share the 2nd Call for Submissions for NordiCHI 2026! Calls for research papers, critiques, panels, industry experience papers, arts-based approaches, workshop proposals, tutorials, demos, late-breaking work, and doctoral consortium contributions for NordiCHI 2026 are available at the conference website: https://nordichi2026.org/ Proceedings of the conference will be published in the ACM Digital Library within its International Conference Proceedings Series (ICPS). The biannual NordiCHI is one of the key venues for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research in the world, bringing together a global community of researchers, practitioners, students, and industry experts - including you! In 2026, NordiCHI will take place in Vaasa, Finland on October 3-7. The conference is jointly organized by Åbo Akademi University and University of Vaasa. Professor Yvonne Rogers, Professor Mattia Thibault, and Senior Designer and Deputy Professor Pontus Wärnestål will deliver the keynote addresses at the conference. The conference theme is Pulse - exploring the energy that drives us, representing the dynamic highs and calm lows of life, keeping us thriving. Vaasa is known for both its vibrant energy industry as the Nordic energy cluster and the tranquility of its surrounding nature and UNESCO World Heritage site. Our ambition is for the conference to energize its participants through inspiring encounters and opportunities to truly feel the pulse of the HCI field. Submission deadlines (all AoE): · April 16, 2026: Research Paper abstracts and metadata · April 23, 2026: Research Papers, Critiques, Panels, Arts-Based Approaches, Industry Experience · May 7, 2026: Workshops, Tutorials · May 18, 2026: Late-Breaking Work, Demos, Doctoral Consortium Join us in Vaasa for an inspiring NordiCHI 2026! Warm regards, Susanne Hägglund and Laura Havinen General Chairs NordiCHI 2026 https://nordichi2026.org/

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The 25th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS 2026): Last Combo Call for Workshop Papers
by Announce 28 Jan '26

28 Jan '26

*** Last Combo Call for Workshop Papers *** The 25th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS 2026) May 25-29, 2026, 5* Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, Paphos, Cyprus https://cyprusconferences.org/aamas2026/ AAMAS 2026 received 1455 full paper submissions for the Main Track, after an initial submission of 1800 abstracts. This is by far the highest number of submissions (around 50% more than the previous highest number) in the 25 years of AAMAS. The conference will feature the following workshops with open calls for submission. Please visit the workshops' websites and/or contact their organisers for more details and important dates. 2nd Workshop on AI for Critical Infrastructure and Government (AI4CNI-26) https://sites.google.com/view/ai4cni-26/ Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) forms the backbone of modern society, yet its increasing complexity requires increasingly autonomous operation and makes it vulnerable to cascading failures and cyber-physical threats. The AI4CNI workshop explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and multi-agent systems to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and defense of vital services like energy, transportation, communication networks and healthcare. 18th International Workshop on Adaptive and Learning Agents (ALA) https://alaworkshop2026.github.io/ Adaptive and Learning Agents (ALA) brings together researchers working on learning, adaptation, and autonomous behaviour in single- and multi-agent systems. The workshop welcomes contributions from across computer science (including reinforcement learning, agent architectures, evolutionary computation, planning, and game theory) as as well as from related fields such as cognitive science, biology, economics, and the social sciences. Autonomous Robots and Multirobot Systems (ARMS) https://arms2026.di.unimi.it/ Robots are agents, too. Indeed, agents researchers often use robotics problems as motivating examples. Both practical and analytical techniques developed by agents researchers influence, and are influenced by, research in autonomous robots and multi- robot systems. Despite the overlap between the agents and robotics research areas, researchers from these communities only have a few opportunities to meet and interact. The Robotics Area of Interest in the main AAMAS conference (formerly, the “Robotics Track”) is one such opportunity. The goal of this workshop is to build on this opportunity, offering an informal and dedicated forum where agents and robotics researchers can interact, discuss promising research directions and open problems, and foster further collaborations. Contributions are sought in all areas of robotics, in particular as related to autonomous agents research. Theoretical papers are welcome, as long as they clearly specify the connection to challenges in robotics. Empirical studies should ideally present experiments with real robots, though physical simulation studies are also acceptable. Papers that focus on mechanical aspects and low-level control should make an effort to relate this work to the agents community. 7th International Workshop on Agents for Societal Impact (ASI) https://panosd.eu/asi2026/ This workshop focuses on the design, analysis, and deployment of intelligent agents that contribute positively to society. As AI agents become increasingly autonomous and embedded in real-world systems, it is critical to ensure that their behavior aligns with human values and societal goals, rather than optimizing narrowly defined technical objectives. The workshop provides a forum to discuss how agent-based technologies can be responsibly applied to real-world societal systems, including (but not limited to): healthcare, education, climate, sustainability, conservation, public infrastructure, labor markets, governance and policy design, etc. The goal is to identify new MAS problems in societies, develop novel MAS solutions to resolve social challenges, and learn from the real-world deployment of MAS. 14th International Workshop on Agents in Traffic and Transportation (ATT 2026) https://sites.google.com/unimib.it/att2026/ The ATT 2026 workshop focuses on AI-driven modeling, simulation, control, and management of large-scale traffic and transportation systems. It addresses the challenges of distributed, autonomous, and data-rich mobility systems operating under uncertainty and societal constraints. The workshop invites contributions on multi-agent systems, machine learning, optimization, control, and data-centric AI approaches. Topics include autonomous and connected vehicles, intelligent traffic control, digital twins, shared mobility, and multi-modal transportation. Both theoretical advances and real-world applications enabling safe, robust, and scalable intelligent transportation are welcomed. Citizen-Centric Multi Agent Systems 2026 (C-MAS 2026) https://sites.google.com/view/cmas2026 Join us for the C-MAS 2026 workshop, where we explore citizen-centric AI and multiagent systems. In today’s world, large-scale AI systems hold the potential to tackle critical societal challenges, from decarbonising our energy system to facilitating on-demand mobility and improving disaster response. However, we often overlook the active role of citizen end users, treating them merely as data providers and service consumers. Our workshop aims to shift this perspective and explore innovative approaches that treat citizen end users as primary agents with diverse needs and preferences. By doing so, we can develop more trustworthy, fair, and widely accepted sociotechnical solutions to pressing societal challenges. 11th Workshop on Collaboration of Humans, Agents, Robots, Machines and Sensors (CHARMS 2026) https://charms2026.github.io/ Cyber physical systems (CPS) are becoming more involved in the lives of humans. All indications point to a future where many varieties of CPS and humans co-exist and, at a minimum, must interact consistently through life’s tasks. This workshop will explore ideas of the future to understand, discern and develop the relationship between humans and CPS and the practical nature of software agents to facilitate the integration. Causal Learning and Reasoning in Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (CLaRAMAS) https://claramas-workshop.github.io/claramas2026/ CLaRAMAS aims to foster cross-disciplinary exchange and synergistic collaboration between two complementary communities: the AAMAS community and the Causal Learning and Reasoning (CLR) community. The overarching goal is to bridge these domains by exploring the following open questions: How CLR techniques can enhance agent-based decision-making? How agent-oriented perspectives can leverage the operational deployment of CLR in real-world applications? Coordination, Organizations, Institutions, Norms and Ethics for Governance of Multi- Agent Systems (COINE) https://coin-workshop.github.io/coine-2026-paphos/ This workshop is an evolution of the COIN (Coordination, Organizations, Institutions and Norms in Agent Systems) workshop series that ran at various conferences including AAMAS (18 times), IJCAI (twice), AAAI in 2008 and ECAI in 2006 and 2016, and produced 17 volumes of post-proceedings in Springer’s Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence. The 18th volume of COINE post-proceedings is in progress. In 2020, ethics was added to the name and acronym (now COINE), and also the notion of governance of MAS was added to the full workshop title as this is the common objective uniting the various threads of research (coordination, organizations, etc.) undertaken. The workshop in the new format has been held six times (2020–2025). 14th International Workshop on Engineering Multi-Agent Systems (EMAS 2026) https://w3id.org/emas/2026/ EMAS 2026 builds on the long-standing tradition of the Workshop on Engineering Multi- Agent Systems, advancing the design, implementation, and deployment of autonomous agents and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) through research on theories, architectures, languages, platforms, and methodologies. To engage with emerging augmented language models and agentic systems and build on decades of established MAS engineering approaches, this 14th edition focuses on Hybrid Agent Architectures and Multi-Agent Systems. We invite contributions covering the diversity of approaches to engineering agents and MAS: submissions may focus on established or emerging approaches, as well as hybrid approaches that integrate the two, exploring, among others, questions such as how elements from different agent architectures can be combined to create more capable agents, and how MAS can be designed to ensure interoperability, coordination, and governance among heterogeneous agents. 8th International Workshop on EXplainable, Trustworthy, & Responsible AI & Multi‑Agent Systems (EXTRAAMAS 2026) https://extraamas.ehealth.hevs.ch/index.html The International Workshop on EXplainable, Trustworthy, and Responsible AI and Multi- Agent Systems (EXTRAAMAS) runs since 2019, and is a well-established workshop and forum. It aims to discuss and disseminate research on explainable artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on intra/inter-agent(ic) explainability and cross-disciplinary perspectives. In its 8th edition, EXTRAAMAS 2026 identifies four particular focus topics with the ultimate goal of strengthening cutting-edge foundational and applied research. The 8th Games, Agents, and Incentives Workshop (GAIW-26) https://gtep-workshops.github.io/gaiw2026/ Games, Agents and Incentives is a confederated workshop which focuses on agents and incentives in AI. In particular, it promotes approaches that deal with game theory (cooperative and non-cooperative), social choice, and agent-mediated e-commerce aspects of AI systems. The confederated workshop merges multiple workshops that have been associated with AAMAS in the past, which considered different aspects of the general interplay between AI and economics including CoopMAS, AMEC, and EXPLORE. 27th International Workshop on Multi-Agent-Based Simulation (MABS 2026) https://mabsworkshop.github.io/ MABS focuses on the confluence of social sciences and multi-agent systems, with a strong application/empirical vein, and it emphasizes, (i) exploratory agent-based simulation as a principled way of undertaking scientific research in the social sciences and (ii) using social theories as an inspiration for new frameworks and developments in multi-agent systems. MABS 2026 continues its tradition of fostering cross-fertilisation and innovation in MAS engineering and complex social and sociotechnical systems modeling. The workshop encourages submissions in areas such as simulation methodology and tools, simulation of social and intelligent behaviour, diverse applications, and simulation analytics. International Workshop on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems for Space Applications (MASSpace) https://mas-space.github.io/aamas2026ws/ This workshop aims at disseminating and sharing recent advances in the use of agent- based and multi-agent-based models and techniques in the Space domain. Indeed, the use of agent-based and multi-agent systems (MAS) in aerospace and space is gaining traction, as they offer a promising approach for modeling and solving distributed, complex and dynamic problems. Sample applications notably include multiple spacecraft operations and maintenance, onboard-ground coordination, mission simulation, multi- mission operation, autonomous navigation, and collective robotics. NEurosymbolic eXplainable trUstworthy Systems (NEXUS) https://nexus.telecom-paris.fr/ The opacity of current deep learning models is a major barrier to adoption where accountability is essential. NEXUS focuses on neurosymbolic reasoning as a foundational approach to building theory, applications, and tools for well-calibrated and trustworthy autonomy. This paradigm moves beyond a narrow focus on formal logic, concerning itself with the integration of deep and reinforcement learning algorithms with a broad spectrum of structured knowledge. Workshop on Optimization and Learning in Multi-Agent Systems (OptLearnMAS) https://optlearnmas.github.io The goal of the workshop is to provide researchers with a venue to discuss models or techniques for tackling a variety of multi-agent optimization problems. We seek contributions in the general area of multi-agent optimization, including distributed optimization, coalition formation, optimization under uncertainty, winner determination algorithms in auctions and procurements, and algorithms to compute Nash and other equilibria in games. Of particular emphasis are contributions at the intersection of optimization and learning. This workshop invites works from different strands of the multi-agent systems community that pertain to the design of algorithms, models, and techniques to deal with multi-agent optimization and learning problems or problems that can be effectively solved by adopting a multi-agent framework. Rebellion and Disobedience in Artificial Intelligence (RaD-AI) https://sites.google.com/view/rad-ai/home Should intelligent autonomous agents always obey human commands or instructions? In some contexts, they should not. Most existing research on collaborative robots and agents assumes that a “good” agent complies with the instructions it is given and works in a predictable manner under the consent of the human operator(s) it serves (e.g., it should never deceive its operator). Our RaD-AI workshop challenges this assumption; we will reconsider the desired abilities and responsibilities of collaborative agents. For example, these include exhibiting behavior that attempts appropriate and harm-preventing non- compliance (e.g., safety constraints in autonomous vehicles or training LLMs to avoid potentially harmful or norm-violating output), among others. Our agenda will include accepted submissions that describe novel (and/or survey existing) contributions, or propose new directions, related to RaD-AI in the context of intelligent social agents, human-agent interaction, and their societal effects, along with invited talks and other events. We warmly welcome participation from AAMAS-26 conference attendees! Strategic Engineering Workshop (SE) https://sites.google.com/view/se-aamas2026 Real-world interactions are messy; Game Theory is rigorous. Historically, connecting the two required expensive manual modeling. “Strategic Engineering” seeks to automate this pipeline. We ask: How can LLMs serve as architects, translating everyday scenarios into the formal structures that Game Theory (GT) and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) require? If we can automate the creation of the “world model”, we can unlock the full power of classical GT/ MAS reasoning for any situation. We invite submissions that fuse the generative capabilities of LLMs with the reasoning power of GT/MAS, creating a new class of agents capable of navigating complex, strategic environments. Organizing Committee AAMAS 2026 General Chairs • Viviana Mascardi, University of Genova, Italy • John Thangarajah, RMIT University, Australia AAMAS 2026 Program Chairs • Chris Amato, Northeastern University, United States of America • Louise Dennis, University of Manchester, United Kingdom AAMAS 2026 Local Chairs • George A. Papadopoulos, University of Cyprus, Cyprus (Chair) • Panayiotis Kolios, University of Cyprus, Cyprus (Vice Chair)

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UKRI is inviting AI researchers to the UK | The University of Manchester
by Kitty Lo 28 Jan '26

28 Jan '26

A major new opportunity has just launched for world‑class AI talent based outside the UK! UKRI are seeking to attract exceptional Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers currently based outside of the UK to build new AI research capability in UK Universities. This fellowship provides: * Funding to relocate to the UK * Support to establish a high‑calibre research team * Resources to pursue transformational, high‑impact AI research If anyone in your network knows outstanding AI researchers who may be interested in relocating to the UK — or if that might even be you — please encourage them to submit an Expression of Interest to Digital Futures - The University of Manchester via this link: https://forms.gle/ZUMJKCbxFJJGidr8A EoI Deadline: 6 February 2026 at 17:00 GMT More details of the scheme can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/turing-ai-global-fellowships/ For further details or queries, reach out to Digital Futures at: digitalfutures(a)manchester.ac.uk<mailto:digitalfutures@manchester.ac.uk> To stay up to date with Digital Futures' opportunities and news, please sign up to our newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/digitalfuturesuom Kind regards, Kitty kitty.lo(a)manchester.ac.uk | Communications and Engagement Coordinator | Research Platforms Team - Digital Futures | The University of Manchester | Pronouns (She/her) Christie Building | The University of Manchester | Oxford Road | M13 9PL Sign up to the Digital Futures newsletter here - https://tinyurl.com/digitalfuturesuom

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PhD position in the Doctoral Network "RePIM – Revisioning Public Interest Media" // University of Zurich
by Alena Birrer 28 Jan '26

28 Jan '26

Dear AoIR Community, The Media & Internet Governance Division (Prof. Dr. Natascha Just), Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ), University of Zurich, invites applications for a doctoral position in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network "RePIM – Revisioning Public Interest Media". The Doctoral Candidate will investigate how automated content is used in Public Interest Media and assess the emerging potentials and challenges this creates. The position will involve close collaboration with other Doctoral Candidates in the RePIM doctoral Network Project, and an academic secondment of approximately 2 months at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria. The candidate will also carry out 3-month internship at the VRT, the Public Service Media organisation in Flanders, Belgium. The planned starting date is 1 May 2026. For further information and application details, visit https://repimnetwork.eu/dc1-coping-with-the-challenges-of-automated-content… With best regards, Alena Birrer Alena Birrer, MA Research and Teaching Associate Media & Internet Governance Division Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ) University of Zurich Andreasstrasse 15, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland Tel. +41 44 635 21 61<file:///Applications/Microsoft%20Outlook.app/Contents/Frameworks/EmailRendererKit.framework/Resources/+41%2044%20635%2021%2061>, www.ikmz.uzh.ch<https://www.ikmz.uzh.ch/en/research/divisions/media-and-internet-governance…>

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