At our annual IBACS end-of-year event, we often set aside time for attendees to break into collaboration groups focused on relevant and emerging research topics. These discussions are intended to bring together researchers from different disciplines to exchange ideas, identify shared interests, and explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, including research projects and external grant applications.

The IBACS Working Group on Human-Computer and Human-AI Interactions grew out of one of these breakout discussions at our May 2026 event. The group meets monthly to build community around shared interests in human-computer and human-AI interactions, connect researchers across disciplines, discuss emerging questions and challenges, and identify opportunities for future research and collaboration.

Open Questions and Future Directions for AI in Academia and the Learning Sciences

October 7, 2026 | Joint Meeting with “AI Café for All”

Abstract: Faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students are all facing the “AI revolution” together, and each group brings unique experiences and insights into how this fast-changing field is shaping the future of science and education. This session will be led by an interdisciplinary group from the Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) who are interested in hearing more about your questions, hopes, and worries about AI. In this session, we will begin by talking about some things on our mind (including the role of AI in ethical research practices and how to promote deep learning with AI use), but the majority of our time together will be dedicated to turning your ideas into breakout discussions about how AI relates to academia and the learning sciences (construed broadly). We don’t promise to have all the answers, but we hope that these conversations will provide a starting point for policy, research, and educational decisions at UConn.