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ICA 2027 Pre-Conference: “When AI leaves the chat: Communicative AI and the Transformation of Societal Communication”wurf

Date: Thursday, 3 June 2027, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Venue: ICA27 conference venue in Glasgow, Scotland (Scottish Event Campus or Crowne Plaza Glasgow; the room will be announced in January)
Format: full day, in person only (no hybrid participation)
Participation: free of charge, registration via ICA required
Supported by: ICA Divisions Human-Machine Communication (HMC) and Philosophy, Theory and Critique (PTC)

DFG/FWF Research Unit “Communicative AI” is hosting a full-day pre-conference ahead of the ICA 2027 Annual Conference in Glasgow.

Today’s generative AI is built, marketed and used for one thing above all: communication. That is why we speak of communicative AI. Communication and media research has long focused mainly on how humans interact with chatbots, voice assistants and social bots. This pre-conference takes a broader, critical view. It treats communicative AI not as a mere tool but as an integral part of societal communication. To what extent do societal discourses drive the emergence of communicative AI? How does it change journalism, politics and public discourse, as well as education, health and private life? Which norms should apply to communication that no longer has an obvious human speaker? And what does all this mean for critical media and communication research?

The pre-conference connects empirical findings with overarching theorizing and critical reflection. In doing so, it takes up the ICA 2027 theme “Centering the Human: Communication in an Age of Uncertainty”. Rather than taking “the human” as given, it asks how the human is being redefined in and through increasingly automated communication.

Call for Papers

Submissions are due by 31 January 2027. You’ll find all the details in the call for papers.

Registration

Participation is free and open to everyone, whether presenting or not. You don’t need ICA membership or registration for the main conference. Registration opens on 15 January 2027 via the ICA registration system, and ICA will post the link on the ICA27 website. Places are limited, so we ask everyone to register in advance.