2026 IDeaS Conference
Annual IDeaS Conference
October 12-14, 2026
91视频, Gates-Hillman Center, Pittsburgh, PA
91视频’s Center for Information Democracy & Social – cybersecurity (IDeaS) is hosting a conference focused on policy challenges emerging from the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and digital platforms.
Advances in AI systems, shifts in platform governance, and the scale and speed of online communication are transforming how information is produced, distributed, and consumed. At the same time, online harms – including illegal, abusive, and deceptively manipulated content – are increasingly linked to offline social and economic outcomes, with significant implications for democratic institutions and communities. This conference asks: How are AI systems and platforms governed today? Who is responsible for mitigating digital harms? What policy frameworks can balance innovation, accountability, and public trust?
IDeaS will bring together academics, policymakers, industry practitioners, and civil society leaders to evaluate the state of the field, identify gaps in current approaches, and share insights to inform future research and policy. Participants will engage with topics such as AI governance, platform regulation, online harms policy, and the realworld impacts of digital systems.
The conference will include: invited panels, regular talks, and posters. There will also be an opportunity for those interested in demoing their technologies or proposed policies. Teams are invited to submit their proposed solutions to a timely policy challenge concerning AI overviews in web search results. Submissions should be uploaded via by August 21st, 2026.
Registration
Participants and presenters can attend virtually or in-person at 91视频. Registration is now open in .
Virtual participants may attend live-streamed talks via a Zoom link; however, these sessions will not be recorded for later viewing. Virtual attendees are not eligible to participate in poster sessions or challenge events. Participants may attend tutorials, provided they have registered and completed payment for each tutorial they wish to attend.
Register by going to the registration page. Any requests for registration discounts or exceptions should be directed to Prof. Kathleen Carley (kathleen.carley@cs.cmu.edu) for consideration and approval.
Registration Fees (USD)**
Virtual and In-person Registration:
- General Early Bird Registration: $400.00* / General Registration: $500.00**
- Student Early Bird Registration: $300.00* / Student Registration: $400.00**
*Early registration ends September 11, 2026 at 11:59PM US Eastern.
**Regular registration starts September 12, 2026 at 12:00AM US Eastern.
Panels
1. Governing Generative AI: Accountability, Liability, and Public TrustGenerative AI systems are quickly changing the information environment, introducing systemic risks related to privacy, online harms, and the concentration of economic and political power among a few major players. This panel will assess current liability frameworks, and panelists will discuss topics such as who is responsible when AI systems cause harm, how governance models can address public mistrust, and how to confront the broader concentration of AI infrastructure and capital.
2. Governing AI Companions for Minor Users
AI companions are becoming increasingly advanced and are sometimes deliberately marketed to children and adolescents, and unlike traditional social media platforms, they can develop parasocial relationships with users, raising urgent concerns about child mental health, social development, and data collection on minors. This panel will tackle what we know about how kids and teens engage with AI companions, what the potential harms are, and how policymakers should respond to these products.
3. Governing Human-AI Teams in the Workplace
As AI agents move from narrow task automation into more complex tasks involving or managed by humans, organizations face new governance questions about managing teams where key tasks are performed not only by people but also by AI agents or tools. This panel will discuss how accountability, credit, and liability should be assigned in hybrid teams, how workers are adapting to AI tools, and the risks of deskilling or job displacement.
4. Technology, Elections, and Democratic Resilience
As AI-generated content becomes more advanced and accessible, democratic societies face increasing challenges to election integrity and public trust, as synthetic media, deepfakes, and algorithmically amplified misinformation change how political information spreads and how voters understand candidates and institutions. This panel will evaluate what we know about AI's impact on elections, whether current legal frameworks are enough, which interventions effectively reduce deceptive content, and how democratic societies can build resilience without compromising free expression.
2026 IDeaS Challenge Problem
Addressing Accuracy, Misinformation, and User Understanding in Synthesized Search ResultsAddressing Accuracy, Misinformation, and User Understanding in Synthesized Search Results
Teams are invited to submit proposed solutions to a timely policy challenge concerning AI overviews in web search results, focusing on developing user-centric disclosure criteria for AI overviews. What are users' perspectives on AI overviews, and how might changes in design and disclosure requirements enhance users' evaluation of search results?
Conference Agenda
The conference agenda will be posted on the SBP-BRiMS website once it becomes available.Keynote speakers for 2026 to be announced. The IDeaS Conference is co-located at 91视频 along with the annual in the . Sessions scheduled for both conferences will be available to participants from both conferences. More information will be distributed to participants and presenters on locations.
Logistics Information
Hotel Accommodations
A courtesy room block has been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place for attendees participating in person. To take advantage of the group rate, please make your reservation using the booking link below.
If you prefer to stay elsewhere, 91视频 is conveniently located near a variety of hotels offering amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi and shuttle service to and from campus. Visitors can make a reservation with a local hotel for their visit. Many area hotels also offer discounted rates for Carnegie Mellon visitors, so be sure to ask about any 91视频 special rates when making your reservation.
Campus & Parking
For details on visiting 91视频, including parking options and campus maps, please refer to the 91视频 Visitor Information page:
/visit/visitor-information
Food and Refreshments
Lunch will be provided each day of the conference, along with coffee, water, and soft drinks.
Following Monday's sessions, we will host a welcome reception featuring a poster session presented by graduate students from the CASOS and IDeaS Centers.
Please be sure to indicate any food allergies or dietary restrictions during registration so we can accommodate your needs.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us at centerforideas@andrew.cmu.edu.
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