The Conference on Society-Centered AI is Duke University’s flagship event dedicated to exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and society. Hosted by the Society-Centered AI Initiative (SCAI), the conference brings together leading voices from academia, industry, and government to discuss how AI can be designed, deployed, and governed in ways that center human values and societal well-being. #SCAI2026 took place February 12-14, 2026, at the Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.
Please visit our conference website to learn more and view videos of presentations.
2026 Symposium Highlights
The 2026 Conference on Society-Centered AI, held from February 12–14, 2026, continued to elevate Duke’s leadership in society-centered AI. More than 950 attendees representing 50+ universities and 80+ companies participated in a dynamic, multi-day program that included:
- Keynotes & Panels featuring globally recognized leaders including Arvind Narayanan, Reggie Townsend, and Nicholas Christakis, along with interdisciplinary panels on AI and creativity, community impact, research innovation, and human AI relationships
- Spotlight Talks showcasing 14 research presentations from Duke faculty and collaborators across engineering, computer science, public policy, sociology, ecology, English, and more
- Peer-reviewed Research Sessions as part of the Society-Centered AI Research Panel and Research Rapid Fire, highlighting top-scoring abstracts from Duke scholars and peers at other institutions
- A vibrant Poster & Art Session featuring 40 research posters and art installations created by contributors across more than 20 Duke departments and institutes
- Society-Centered AI Hackathon with 80+ student participants forming 19 interdisciplinary teams, judged by industry leaders from Walu AI, Google Cloud, and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, with the winning team presenting on the main conference stage
- Community Events & Networking through four dedicated mixers that brought together academics, industry professionals, and students to spark new collaborations across campus and beyond
The event was co-sponsored by the Society-Centered AI Initiative at Duke, the Fuqua School of Business, Duke Science & Society, the Center for Computational Thinking, the Duke Artificial Intelligence Master of Engineering, the Duke Master of Enginerring in Design and Technology Innovation, the Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics, and the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship.
See Photos & Videos from the 2026 Conference
2025 Symposium Highlights
The inaugural event, held from February 28 – March 3, 2025, marked a milestone in Duke’s leadership in society-centered AI. Over 700 attendees from more than 20 universities and 50 companies participated in a dynamic, multi-day program that included:
- Keynotes & Panels by Duke leaders and distinguished alumni such as Cynthia Rudin, Lee Tiedrich, and Matthew Kenney
- Spotlight Talks from new Duke faculty including Emily Wenger, Boyuan Chen, and Ashley Harrell
- Peer-reviewed Research Presentations by Duke graduate students, postdocs, and recent alumni
- A vibrant Poster Session featuring 22 projects and 51 contributors
- Hackathon with 10 interdisciplinary teams tackling benchmarks for society-centered AI
- Fireside Chats & Lectures by national thought leaders including Ronnie Chatterji, Mohit Bansal, and Matt Perault
See Photos & Videos from the 2025 Symposium
Distinguished Lecturer in Society-Centered AI Award
Each year, SCAI honors a global leader whose work exemplifies the integration of technical excellence with societal impact. The 2024 recipient of the Distinguished Lecturer in Society-Centered AI Award was:
Yann LeCun, Ph.D.
Chief AI Scientist, Meta
A pioneer in deep learning and a Turing Award laureate, Dr. LeCun delivered a keynote lecture that challenged the audience to rethink the foundations of AI development. His talk emphasized the importance of building AI systems that are not only intelligent but also aligned with human values and social contexts.