Call for Papers: “Irrationality and the Age of AI: Language, Ethics, and the Future of Human Expression”, 18-20 May, 2026

Conference at the University of Bonn, 18-20 May, 2026

The AI revolution has accelerated in recent years, propelled by the widespread use of large language models (LLMs). Today, AI systems are not only transforming technical environments but also shaping our thoughts, emotions, and everyday linguistic practices. Increasingly, AI research and industry are shifting their attention from rational problem-solving toward aspects of human life once considered the last bastions of humanity. We can contrast this approach to AI as a simulation of ‘rationality’ with the expansion of applications into the realm of the expression of emotions and other aspects of human life often seen as ‘irrational’.

We will address a paradox of technological progress: the deeper AI mirrors the structural layers of the human mind through interdisciplinary breakthroughs, the more actually existing human irrationality becomes visible as social and political collateral damage. Simulating this irrationality, in turn, provides AI with new behavioral data, generating a non-rational feedback loop alongside the rational one—bringing both novel opportunities and risks.

Submission Guidelines
We invite individual proposals for 20-minute presentations (followed by Q&A) or collective proposals for 2h panels that address one or more of the above themes.

We accept proposals for traditional academic presentations, as well as project/product demonstrations and artistic interventions. We are looking for contributions from established academics, early career researchers, policy specialists, civil society organisations, as well as communicators and artists.

Accepted speakers will be considered for travel and accommodation funding.

We particularly encourage submissions for interdisciplinary papers as well as submissions from scholars and practitioners from the Majority World.

Submissions should include:

A title
Half-page abstract per talk (approx. 250–300 words) outlining the proposed topic, methodology, and its relevance to the theme of the conference
A brief biographical note (max. 100 words)

Deadline for Abstract Submission: December 01, 2025
Please submit your abstracts here.