Call for Papers:

Comm Horizons @ UCD 2026: Communication in the Age of AI and Algorithms
May 15-17, 2026
University of California Davis
https://communication.ucdavis.edu/horizonconf2026

Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2026

We are excited to announce the second annual Communication Horizons Conference at UC Davis. This year’s theme is “Communication in the Age of AI and Algorithms.”

The conference will take place at UC Davis May 15 – 17, 2026.

Artificial intelligence and algorithms increasingly shape how people connect, inform themselves, create, and engage with media. This year’s conference explores how AI and algorithmic systems mediate human relationships, influence media use, and enable new forms of communication, bringing together diverse perspectives to understand and guide communication in a rapidly evolving digital society.

OVERVIEW AND TOPICS

This conference provides a venue for innovative work that advances our understanding of human-machine communication, algorithmic mediation, and the societal forces emerging from life in an AI-driven world. We welcome research that explores the conference theme across selection, processing, and effects research traditions, as well as novel interdisciplinary approaches.

Suitable topics are not limited to, but include:

• Algorithmic Mediation of Communication and Social Interaction
• Human-Machine Communication and AI-Driven Interfaces
• AI, (Social) Media, and Information Environments
• Generative AI in Content Creation, Creativity, and Entertainment
• Communication, Identity, and Expression in Algorithmic Systems
• Algorithmic Bias, Transparency, and Democracy
• User Agency, Digital Literacy, and Platform Navigation
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on AI, Algorithms, and Communication Practices
• Methodological Advances Using AI and Algorithms
• AI in Health, Persuasion, and Social Influence

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

We invite original empirical research, theoretical arguments, methodological advances, data donations, and research syntheses in the following format:

• Extended Abstract: A 500-word (excluding references, if applicable, no figures or tables allowed) summary of the research. Empirical submissions should describe a project where data collection has been completed and should include a presentation of preliminary results. Works where data collection is in progress will not be considered.

Submissions may be invited as a research presentation or a poster. Presentations are in-person only.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026, Anywhere on Earth (AOE)
• Decisions: March 15, 2026
• Conference Dates: May 15 – 17, 2026

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Extended abstracts will be submitted through an online portal.

REGISTRATION

Registration will open March 15, 2026. Registration fees are as follows:

• UC Davis Affiliates: Free
• Non-UC Davis Student/Post-Doc: $75
• Non-UC Davis Faculty/Industry: $150

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Mohrmann Lecture: Dr. Jeff Hancock (Stanford)
Bio: Jeff Hancock is the founding director of the Stanford Social Media Lab and is Harry and Norman Chandler Professor of Communication at Stanford University. Professor Hancock and his group work on understanding psychological and interpersonal processes in social media. The team specializes in using computational linguistics and experiments to understand how the words we use can reveal psychological and social dynamics, such as deception and trust, emotional dynamics, intimacy and relationships, and social support. Recently Professor Hancock has begun work on understanding the mental models people have about algorithms in social media, as well as working on the ethical issues associated with computational social science.

Communication Horizons Keynote: Dr. Angel Hsing-Chi Hwang (University of Southern California)
Bio: Angel Hwang (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at USC Annenberg and a human-AI interaction (HAII) researcher. Her research explores the societal impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on work practices in various applied domains, such as small-group teamwork, content production, and mental healthcare services. Her work also aims to provide implications for practitioners to design, build, and apply AI-powered technologies for better work futures. Prior to joining USC, Hwang received her PhD in communication at Cornell University with a concentration in human-computer interaction and conducted her postdoctoral training at Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. Outside of academia, she also has rich experience researching state-of-the-art AI at several world-class research sectors in the tech industry, including Microsoft Research, Google Research, Sony AI, Adobe, and Accenture Labs.

CONTACT

For inquiries, please email the Conference Organizers (Richard Huskey; Jorge Peña; Soojong Kim) at horizonconf@ucdavis.edu.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS

This conference is organized by Drs. Richard Huskey, Jorge Peña, and Soojong Kim. Support for the conference itself is generously provided by the Department of Communication at UC Davis.