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

CFP: The Hybrid Subject: Navigating Human-AI Communication, Shenzhen, China
by radian ye 01 Apr '26

01 Apr '26

*International Academic Conference: The Hybrid Subject: Navigating Human-AI Communication* Hosted by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) *Dates*: June 28-30, 2026 *Venue*: Shenzhen, China *Submission*: Full papers OR extended abstracts ------------------------------ *Conference Overview* Against the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into social, organizational, and interpersonal communication, human-AI interaction has evolved from instrumental operation to hybrid subjectivity: AI systems participate as conversational partners, decision collaborators, and co-creators, reshaping identities, norms, power dynamics, and communicative practices. This conference convenes international scholars in communication, media studies, organizational behavior, digital sociology, human-computer interaction, and AI ethics to interrogate the hybrid subject in theory, method, and practice. We seek empirically grounded, conceptually innovative, and ethically reflective work that advances understanding of how humans and AI mutually constitute communication contexts, identities, and meanings. Selected presenters will be invited to deliver in-person talks in Shenzhen, engage with a global scholarly community, and exchange ideas at PHBS. *Keynote Speakers* *Chul-joo "CJ" Lee*, Department of Communication, Seoul National University, Co-Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Communication *Nuri Kim*, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Associate Editor for Human Communication Research *Topics of Interest* We welcome submissions addressing (but not limited to): · Theoretical frameworks of hybrid human-AI subjectivity · Identity, agency, and authenticity in human-AI communication · Organizational communication, leadership, and production with AI agents · Persuasion, trust, and misinformation in hybrid communication ecosystems · Language, discourse, and conversational norms in human-AI interaction · Ethical, privacy, and governance challenges of human-AI communication · Methodological innovations for studying hybrid communication · Cross-cultural and global perspectives on human-AI interaction *Submission Guidelines* *Eligibility* · Original, unpublished work not under review elsewhere · Submissions must be in *English* *Submission Types* 1. *Full Paper* o Length: 6,000–9,000 words (excluding references, tables, figures) o Include title, abstract (200–300 words), keywords, main text, references 2. *Extended Abstract* o Length: 1,000–1,500 words (excluding title, references) o Clearly state research question, theoretical framework, method, preliminary findings, and contributions *Submission Format* · Use APA 7th edition or consistent social science citation style · Double-spaced, 12-point standard font (Times New Roman) · Submissions should be sent to phbscommunication(a)phbs.pku.edu.cn *Important Dates* · Submission Deadline: 30 *April* · Notification of Acceptance: *10 May* · Conference Dates: *June 28–30, 2026* *Presentation* · Selected papers will be presented *in person* at PHBS Shenzhen · Presenters will receive official conference certificates · No submission fee or registration fee for participants *Organizing Committee* · Conference Chair: WeiMing Ye, Associate Professor of Financial Media, PHBS · Organizing Committee: Soojin Roh, Zhuo Chen, Luye Bao, and Yangjuan Hu · Contact: phbscommunication(a)phbs.pku.edu.cn Our 2024 conference featured current and former Editors-in-Chief of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (JCMC), Nicole Ellison and Shyam Sundar, as well as Ang Peng Hwa, Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Communication. Please refer to the news to learn more about previous conferences: https://www.phbs.pku.edu.cn/info/1151/115521.htm We invite you to contribute to this landmark dialogue on the hybrid subject and help shape the future of human-AI communication. Peking University HSBC Business School Shenzhen, China 2026 -- WeiMing YE Ph.D. Associate Professor Coordinator of Master of Journalism and Communication (MJC) Program HSBC Business School (PHBS) Peking University Address: Room 645, Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) University Town, Nanshan District Shenzhen 518055, P.R.China Email: yewm(a)phbs.pku.edu.cn Personal Page: https://www.phbs.pku.edu.cn/2016/fulltime_0826/97.html TEL: 86-755-26032704

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New book: Hot Connections: Why Sexual Platforms Matter by Jenny Sundén, Susanna Paasonen & Katrin Tiidenberg
by Jenny Sundén 01 Apr '26

01 Apr '26

Dear all, Our new book Hot Connections: Why Sexual Platforms Matter may be of interest to some of you, just out with MIT Press and OA: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/6108/Hot-ConnectionsWhy-Sexual-Pl… In this book, we ask: What can we learn from including sexual platforms in definitions of social media and, by extension, from including sex in definitions of “the social” itself? Hot Connections explores three locally operating sexual platforms: the Swedish Darkside, used by kink and BDSM practitioners; the Estonian Libertine Center, used mainly by nonmonogamous people; and the Finnish Alastonsuomi, used for a wide variety of nude and sexual displays of self-expression. What avenues do these platforms open for understanding the role that sexuality plays in people’s networked routines, social bonds, and forms of relating? Sexual social media affords freedom of worldmaking, belonging, and a right to sexually exist. While providing vital spaces for sexual self-expression—and indeed, hot connections—platform connectivity also involves friction as expectations, wishes, and desires clash and collide. Intervening in debates on the value of sexual social media, Hot Connections discusses what it means to research sexuality when sexual data is understood as sensitive by default, what platform governance may look like if viewed from the margins, and how sex and intimacy are not the same thing in networked sexuality. All the best, Jenny, Susanna & Kat Jenny Sundén Professor of Gender Studies Coordinator of Graduate School in Gender, Humanities and Digital Cultures (GENHDI) Uppsala University Sweden När du har kontakt med oss på Uppsala universitet med e-post så innebär det att vi behandlar dina personuppgifter. För att läsa mer om hur vi gör det kan du läsa här: http://www.uu.se/om-uu/dataskydd-personuppgifter/ E-mailing Uppsala University means that we will process your personal data. For more information on how this is performed, please read here: http://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/data-protection-policy

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AI-BRIDGES Symposium: Institutional Data, Open Knowledge & AI — May 28–29, London (free)
by Shani Evenstein Sigalov 01 Apr '26

01 Apr '26

Dear Air-L friends & colleagues, *TLDR: *You are invited to a free two-day event at Senate House, London, bringing together institutions, Open Knowledge communities, AI developers, researchers and funders. The event will focus on how institutional data, Linked Open Data, and GenAI can be better connected, featuring hands-on workshops, an expert panel (incl. Jimmy Wales, Denny Vrandečić, Prof. Elena Simperl, Renata Avila and others), and collaborative roundtables. More details & registration here <https://ai-bridges.org/2026/02/13/symposium/>. *The more elaborate version: * I have been wanting to write here for a few months now about AI-BRIDGES, and am excited to finally do that and specifically invite you to the AI-BRIDGES Symposium. For those researching the intersection of AI, open knowledge, and institutional data governance, an event that combines research dialogue with hands-on collaboration may be of interest. AI-BRIDGES <https://ai-bridges.org/> is a European Commission-funded project exploring how institutional data, Linked Open Data platforms like Wikidata & Wikibase, and Generative AI can be better connected, practically and responsibly. We work with various partners in the UK and globally (a partial list of which you could find here <https://ai-bridges.org/partners/>), and the project serves as a convening, facilitating and innovative space that connects communities that otherwise work in silos, in order to collaboratively tackle some joint challenges. On *May 28–29*, we're hosting a Symposium at *Senate House, University of London*: *Day 1 (Thu):* *pre-Symposium training day:* training about Wikidata, Wikibase, AI embeddings & MCP, and vibe coding for institutions and practitioners. Online attendance is possible. *Day 2 (Fri):* *the main Symposium day*: intro & framing, Expert panel & facilitated roundtables. Only in person (most will be recorded). *Panelists* include *Jimmy Wales* (Founder of Wikipedia), *Dr. Denny Vrandečić* (Founder of Wikidata & lead of Abstract Wikipedia), *Jon Lloyd* (Director of Advocacy, Digital Public Good Alliance), *Renata Avila* (CEO, Open Knowledge Foundation), *Prof. Elena Simperl* (Co-director King’s College Institute for AI; director of research Open Data Institute), *Dr. Aaron Halfaker* (Principal Scientist, Microsoft), and *Josie Fraser* (Head of Digital Policy, National Lottery Heritage Fund UK), alongside representatives from government, cultural heritage, academia and civil society. The *roundtables* are designed for collaborative problem-solving, participants work together on real challenges and leave with concrete next steps. Attendance is free, but registration is required. For more details and registration, please see here <https://ai-bridges.org/2026/02/13/symposium/> . *Beyond the Symposium*, AI-BRIDGES hosts monthly Open Forum meetings (last Friday of each month, 15:00 UK time), an open space for shared learning and collaboration. See here to learn how to join the google group and become a thought partner <https://ai-bridges.org/2026/01/06/open-forum/>. Finally, if you work at an institution, please check the "Get Involved" tab <https://ai-bridges.org/get-involved/>, specifically around contributing sample data to the project. If you have any questions or want to partner, we'd love to hear from you <https://ai-bridges.org/about/>. Best, Shani. -------------------------- Dr. Shani Evenstein Sigalov Marie Curie Postdoctoral Researcher & AI-BRIDGES <https://ai-bridges.org/> project lead Digital Humanities Research Hub School of Advanced Study University of London +44-7783056290

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Panel on Censorship and Freedom of Expression at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit
by Dr. Emma Briant 01 Apr '26

01 Apr '26

Dear Friends, I have a little announcement, about a panel I have organized for 10th April at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit <https://www.linkedin.com/company/cambridge-disinformation-summit/posts/?fee…> this year on Censorship and Freedom of Expression are the most important rising issue in the context of resurgent authoritarianism. Widespread use of propaganda and disinformation tactics are almost always accompanied by a wider information control. This is a global feature of autocratization and the number of autocratizing countries has grown <https://www.v-dem.net/documents/75/V-Dem_Institute_Democracy_Report_2026_lo…> from 12 in 2005 to 44 in 2025, now affecting 3.4Bn people worldwide. But the increasing jeopardy for freedom of expression is especially worrying to see in liberal democracies like the United States. It shifts international norms, making other autocratic leaders elsewhere feel empowered to go further in disregarding the rights of their citizens. Around the world, we are seeing new technologies such as AI being used, technology-enabled harassment, doxing and intimidation, surveillance or jamming internet service, playing a role in silencing speech, alongside old-fashioned state directed censorship, monopoly power, lawfare, imprisonment, and even murder. But democracy defenders have learned much from the fight and developed robust resources to fight back and empower publics against this threat. I am delighted that the fearless: Nora Benavidez, Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights at Free Press, leading its democracy and tech initiatives Jameel Jaffer, who directs the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which sponsors litigation and research at the intersection of free speech and new technology Jemimah Steinfeld, who is CEO of the freedom of expression organization Index on Censorship ...have kindly agreed to join me on the panel to discuss what censorship means today, how freedom of expression is being threatened, and how to defend against the evolving threats to protect people's rights. For anyone unable to attend in person, there will be video of the discussion made available after event. You can also still watch the panel I organized last year on Tackling Threats to Researchers here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M9lhTm-7f0>. Best wishes, Emma -- *Dr Emma L Briant* Visiting Associate Professor at University of Notre Dame, USA Fellow at Bard College, Human Rights Project, USA Associate at George Washington University, Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, USA Associate at University of Cambridge, Center for Financial Reporting & Accountability, UK Affiliate at Monash University, Monash Global Peace and Security Centre, Australia Owner, Director and Consultant: Maven of Persuasion LLC LEARN MORE FROM ME: 🎓 Online course: https://www.udemy.com/course/propaganda-disinformation-level-1-beginners/?r… 📚 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emmalbriant 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dremmalbriant2459/streams 🌐 emma-briant.co.uk 🗣️ Speaking agent: Chartwell Speakers <https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/emma-briant/> 📰 Sign up for my Newsletter <https://emma-briant.co.uk/sign-up-for-important-updates/> 📘 Editor of *The Routledge Handbook of the Influence Industry* (2024, with Bakir) 📘 Author of: *Propaganda and Counter-Terrorism: Strategies for Global Change *(2015) 📘 Author of: *Bad News for Refugees* (2013, with Philo and Donald) Mastodon @emmalbriant@mastodon.online Twitter @emmalbriant "I thought yesterday was the first day of the rest of my life but it turns out today is." - Steve Martin “Women are like teabags . We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” - Unknown

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