Generative UI Workshop and AI‑Personhood Meet‑up Shape CHI 2026’s Human‑Centric AI Agenda
Updated (3 articles)
New AI‑Focused Sessions Announced for CHI 2026 The CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems will feature two AI‑centric events unveiled on April 1, 2026 by Microsoft Research [1][2]. One is a Generative UI workshop examining how AI‑created interfaces can transform design practice, and the other is a meet‑up probing AI’s role in supporting relational personhood. Both initiatives aim to broaden HCI research beyond traditional health‑oriented applications toward more holistic, human‑centered technologies.
Generative UI Workshop Details and Leadership Organizers Siân Lindley, Jack Williams, and Abigail Sellen will lead the workshop titled “What does Generative UI mean for HCI Practice?” scheduled for the CHI 2026 extended abstracts track [1]. The two‑day session will include a pop‑up panel, collaborative artefact creation, and opportunities to publish outcomes in Interactions or CACM. Submission formats allow two‑page position papers, pictorials, or two‑minute videos, with an expected attendance of roughly 35 participants [1].
AI‑Personhood Meet‑up Calls for Inclusive Research Anja Thieme chairs a meet‑up that places “personhood”—recognizing individuals as whole people with histories and relationships—at the core of AI design [2]. The call highlights a gap in HCI literature: while identity and lived experience have been studied in contexts like stroke, bereavement, and dementia, AI’s mediation of personhood remains under‑researched [2]. Attendees are invited to submit proposals that explore AI systems upholding relational personhood, signaling a collaborative push toward inclusive technology design [2].
Sources
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Microsoft Research: Generative UI Workshop Set for CHI 2026 Explores AI‑Driven Interface Design: Announces a workshop led by Lindley, Williams, and Sellen, detailing its interactive format, submission options, and 35‑person cap .
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Microsoft Research: CHI Meet‑up Calls for AI Research on Personhood: Describes a meet‑up organized by Anja Thieme that urges researchers to investigate AI’s support for relational personhood, noting the existing HCI focus on identity in health contexts .
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Timeline
Pre‑2026: HCI research has long examined identity, values, and lived experience, extending into health contexts such as stroke, bereavement, and dementia, establishing a foundation for studying AI’s role in personhood [2].
Jan 1, 2026: Researchers report that “Generative AI is rapidly entering meetings, prompting expectations of personalized mimetic agents,” and note that most users lack experience preparing and reviewing AI‑generated dialogue, highlighting a critical design gap [3].
Jan 1, 2026: The study interviews nine adults who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), uncovering nine distinct communication strategies across meeting phases, which are offered as actionable design recommendations for next‑generation conversational AI systems [3].
Jan 1, 2026: Findings connect AAC expertise to responsible‑AI safeguards, stating that lessons “link AAC expertise to responsible‑AI concepts such as transparency and watermarking,” suggesting clear agent attribution and AI “personhood” in future designs [3].
Apr 1, 2026: The CHI 2026 workshop “What does Generative UI mean for HCI Practice?” is announced for the Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts, organized by Siân Lindley, Jack Williams, and Abigail Sellen, who expect roughly 35 participants and plan panels, ideation exercises, and artefact creation that may be published in Interactions or CACM [1].
Apr 1, 2026: A CHI meet‑up dedicated to AI and personhood is announced, urging researchers to design AI that upholds “relational personhood” and to submit work that places whole‑person recognition—beyond health or impairment—at the center of HCI research [2].
May 2026 (planned): The upcoming CHI 2026 conference will host both the Generative UI workshop and the AI‑personhood meet‑up, providing a venue for scholars to present the artefacts, papers, and collaborative ideas generated in these sessions [1][2].