Program Objectives

The Connecting HCI and AI across Borders (CHAI) bridge program aims to address the long-standing disciplinary divide between human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI) as two research communities that have often been "divided by a common focus". Building on the 2025 UKAIRS panel on responsible AI across borders and the RAI@CHI meet-up at ACM CHI 2026, CHAI is intended as a structural collaborative, educational, and outreach pipeline between the AI and HCI communities.

Our proposal builds on previous bridging and outreach efforts within HCI and between HCI and adjacent research communities, including ACM SIGCHI and AIS SIGHCI. Although both fields seek to improve human life through computing, they have developed distinct research cultures, methods, and venues. To balance the program of engagement, we bring together key resource people across the bridge between HCI (The Human Context) and AI (The Machine Algorithm). CHAI is a sustained effort to build stronger connections among the AAAI, ACM SIGAI, and ACM SIGCHI communities, creating a distributed network for exchanging perspectives, methods, experiences, and resources.

Topic(s)

• Bridging HCI and AI in Theory and Practice
• Human-AI collaboration vs human-AI interaction
• Human-Centred AI and/or AI-Enabled HCI
• Spectrum of human-in-the-loop and model-in-the-loop
• AI Ethics and Governance Across Borders
• Responsible and Trustworthy AI in Practice
• Pluriversal Visions and Futures for HCI and AI
• Actionable Pathways for Reconnecting SIGCHI and AAAI

Format of Bridge

To address the interdisciplinary divide between HCI, AI, and associated disciplines, the Responsible AI Across Borders (RAIxB) Initiative, the Responsible AI Systems and Societal Experiences (RAISE) Lab, and the Persuasive Computing Lab are conveying a two-day bridge program scheduled for 16- 17 February 2027 at the Palais des congrès in Montréal, Canada. The CHAI bridge program is organised to convene international scholars, researchers and practitioners who may be underrepresented at AAAI or ACM SIGCHI, through:

• Interdisciplinary keynotes (HCI & AI)
• Lightning talks for submitted short papers
• Structured panel discussion during the main conference on the theme of “Code is Law: When Global Software Enforces Local Realities” (TBC)
• 1-hour interactive question-bridge exercises
• 2-hour interactive tutorial session on “HCI for AI Researchers: Designing Human-Centred Intelligent Systems”
• Poster sessions for extended abstract
• 2-hour interactive tutorial session on “AI for HCI researchers: Designing, Evaluating, and Adopting Intelligent Systems”
• 1.5-hour collaborative table-based design probes on the theme of “Code is Law”
• Bridge synthesis session

Attendance

Attendance is open to all AAAI registrants interested in bridging intersectional disciplines. Priority goes to authors of accepted submissions and to diverse participation across themes and career stages. We anticipate 30-40 participants, including researchers, industry practitioners, policy scholars, and students advancing and applying artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction research and innovation. The program is structured as an interactive session designed to maximise participation and collaboration.

Submission Requirements

We welcome submissions in the AAAI-26 two-column format (author kit), or the standard ACM single-column submission template (here):

• Short papers (≤4 pages) references excluded;
• Extended Abstracts ( ≤2 pages), references excluded;
• Interdisciplinary system demonstrations highlighting case studies relevant to the intersection of AI and HCI (≤4 pages), references excluded;

The bridge committee will review submissions. Submissions should state relevance to bridge topics; at least one author of each accepted work is expected to attend and present (lightning talk and poster presentation) during the program. All presentations must be in person. Virtual Presentations are not permitted. Only virtual attendance will be permitted. If the CHAI bridge has fewer than 10 registrations, AAAI and the bridge organisers reserve the right to cancel until January 23, 2027, and will not be held liable for any costs incurred in the preparation for attendance.

Program Key Dates (AoE)

• Submission deadline: November 30, 2026
• Notification: December 4, 2026
• Camera-ready: December 14, 2026
• Early bird AAAI registration closes on or before December 15, 2026
• Standard registration by January 10, 2027
• Bridge program date: February 16-17, 202

Organizing Committee

Jay CUNNINGHAM, Oladapo OYEBODE, Muhammad ADAMU, and Makuochi NKWO