SCAI Symposium

#SCAI2026 in designed type

The Conference on Society-Centered AI or #SCAI2026 (formerly the Responsible AI Symposium) 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 symposium 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 will occur February 12-14, 2026, at the Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Please visit our conference website to learn more, view videos of last year's presentations, and register.

Explore how Duke University is shaping the future of artificial intelligence through a society-centered lens. The Society-Centered Ai initiative's annual conference brings together scholars, industry partners, and community leaders to examine how AI can be designed, governed, and deployed to serve the public good. Featuring keynote talks, interdisciplinary panels, and collaborative workshops, the event highlights Duke’s commitment to ethical, inclusive, and impactful AI research and practice.

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:

man standing arms folded in long-sleeve blue shirt

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.