Researchers, academics, industry professionals and postgraduate students from around the world gathered in Chania, on the Greek island of Crete, from 16-19 July for the 22nd AIAI Conference.
Held at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) in a hybrid format, AIAI 2026 provided an international forum for presenting and discussing the latest advances in AI and their applications across science, industry and society.
AIAI is an annual IFIP conference organised under the auspices of IFIP WG 12.5 (AI Applications). Since its establishment in 2004, it has developed into a mature and internationally recognised scientific event, connecting advances in AI methodology with innovative real-world applications.
The scale and scientific impact of the 2026 conference were reflected in the 288 research papers submitted. After a rigorous peer-review process, 122 full papers and five short papers were accepted. The contributions were published by Springer in four volumes of the IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology series.
IFIP leadership opens the conference
Professor Eunika Mercier-Laurent, Chair of IFIP TC 12 (AI), joined Conference Chairs Professors Ilias Maglogiannis and Lazaros Iliadis for the official welcome session.
In her address, Professor Mercier-Laurent highlighted the importance of international scientific collaboration and IFIP’s role in advancing responsible, human-centred AI.
She also chaired the plenary workshop on ethics in generative AI, which examined the ethical, professional and cybersecurity challenges arising from the rapidly expanding use of generative technologies.
International keynote speakers
Four internationally recognised scholars delivered keynote presentations addressing significant developments and challenges in AI.
Professor Zoran Obradovic of Temple University presented Modelling Interactions in Temporal Multiplex Networks. He discussed machine-learning approaches to analysing complex interactions and events using heterogeneous and multimodal information.
Professor Hojjat Adeli of The Ohio State University delivered Impacts of AI on Humanity: Utopia Versus Dystopia, offering a broad reflection on the opportunities, risks and societal implications of AI.
Professor Anastasios Tefas of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki presented AI for Trustworthy Autonomous Systems: From Reactive Machines to Reasoning Agents. His keynote examined the transition towards more intelligent, explainable and dependable autonomous systems.
The final keynote was delivered by Professor Antonis Argyros of the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas. In Seeing Humans Through AI: Advances in Human-Centred Computer Vision, he presented recent progress in modelling human pose, movement, gestures, activities and social interactions using advanced computer-vision methods.
A broad technical program
The scientific program reflected the breadth of contemporary AI research. Topics included core machine-learning methods, optimisation and learning theory, natural-language processing, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic AI, automated reasoning, computer vision and multimodal perception.
Dedicated sessions also explored robotics and autonomous systems, medical imaging, biomedical decision support, health informatics, cybersecurity, privacy, trustworthy AI, industrial applications, sustainability, education, finance, recommender systems and semantic technologies.
Alongside the main technical sessions, specialised workshops examined emerging and interdisciplinary fields including AI ethics, explainable AI in education, AI for sustainable development, beyond-5G communications, digital health, technologies for older adults and AI-supported project management.
The workshops encouraged focused discussion, the exchange of research ideas and the development of new international collaborations.
Science, collaboration and Cretan hospitality
The MAICh Conference Centre provided an inspiring setting for the event, combining modern scientific facilities with the natural and cultural environment of Crete.
Social activities gave delegates opportunities to experience Chania’s historic character and renowned hospitality while strengthening professional relationships beyond the formal conference sessions.
AIAI 2026 reinforced the conference’s position as an important meeting point for the global AI community. Through its high-quality research, interdisciplinary scope and emphasis on real-world applications, the event contributed to the continuing development of AI while highlighting the international cooperation needed to ensure future technologies are innovative, trustworthy, human-centred and capable of addressing significant societal challenges.
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