Category: Animal-Machine Interaction

Posted on

Three Months to Go Until ACI 2026

In exactly three months, the thirteenth edition of the Animal-Computer Interaction International Conference (ACI 2026) will begin. The conference will take place from December 2 to 5, 2026, at the FHNW Campus Brugg-Windisch in Switzerland. For the first time in its history, the ACI conference will be held in continental Europe. Registration has been open since the end of July, and preparations for the conference are well underway. All submitted papers have now been peer-reviewed, and acceptance and rejection notifications have been sent to the authors. General Chair Oliver Bendel is pleased to see the conference program taking shape and looks forward to welcoming the ACI community to Brugg-Windisch in December. This year’s conference will also feature three workshops, providing opportunities for focused discussion, exchange, and collaboration on topics relevant to Animal-Computer Interaction and related fields. ACI 2026 brings together perspectives from computer science, informatics, engineering, interaction design, animal behavior and welfare science, veterinary science, ecology, sociology, philosophy, and related disciplines. The conference provides a forum for theoretical, methodological, empirical, and ethical work that advances dialogue around animal-centered research and the design of computing-enabled systems. In an increasingly networked world shaped by pervasive technologies, animals – both human and nonhuman – are entangled in complex webs of interaction. ACI 2026 will explore how technology shapes human-animal relationships, how large-scale technological deployments affect animals, and how future systems can be designed responsibly and ethically. The conference also includes work in Animal-Machine Interaction (AMI), exploring interaction and communication between animals and machines, including autonomous systems such as drones and robots. All information about the conference, program, workshops, and participation is available on the ACI 2026 website: www.aciconf.org.

Posted on

More and More Animal-Friendly Machines

Robophilosophy 2026 kicked off on August 11, 2026, at University College Dublin (UCD) in Dublin, Ireland. Held under the theme “Connected Futures – Nature, Robots, and Society”, the conference runs from August 11–14 and brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to explore how robotics and artificial intelligence are transforming human societies and the natural world. On the first day, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel from the FHNW School of Business presented his paper “Towards a Discipline of Animal-Machine Interaction: Ethical and Design Challenges of Machines in Animal Habitats” in the session “Environmental Robotics and Society”. From the abstract: “As autonomous and semi-autonomous machines such as robots and drones increasingly enter animal habitats, new ethical and conceptual challenges emerge. This article proposes animal-machine interaction (AMI) as a distinct discipline concerned with the design and governance of technologies operating in relation to animals. After clarifying core concepts and delineating AMI from related fields, the article highlights the role of machine ethics in developing animal-friendly systems. Selected application examples illustrate how machines can reduce negative impacts on animals and, in some cases, support animal survival through animal-friendly design. The ethical discussion addresses both opportunities and risks of technological intervention in animal habitats. It is becoming clear that AMI is an increasingly important field of research, but one that must remain open to critical reflection and reorientation.” The proceedings, containing all conference papers, will be available in late 2026. For those who don’t want to wait: Oliver Bendel recently published a short book on animal-machine interaction with Springer.

Posted on

Robophilosophy 2016 Opens at UCD

The Robophilosophy Conference 2026 (RP2026) opened on August 11, 2026, at University College Dublin (UCD) in Dublin, Ireland. Held under the theme “Connected Futures – Nature, Robots, and Society”, the conference runs from August 11–14 and brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to explore how robotics and artificial intelligence are transforming human societies and the natural world. RP2026 is the seventh installment in the international Robophilosophy conference series. University College Dublin (UCD) is Ireland’s largest university and one of the country’s leading research institutions. Located in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, UCD is home to more than 34,000 students and has a strong international profile. As robotic systems become increasingly embedded in everyday life, RP2026 seeks to foster dialogue across fields including social robotics, computer science, human-robot interaction, the humanities, social sciences, law, economics, and environmental research. Key questions include how robotic technologies can uphold human dignity, autonomy, and social justice; how legal systems need to adapt to autonomous decision-making; and whether robots can contribute to sustainability rather than accelerate ecological decline. The conference also addresses the impact of automation on labor markets and economic inequality, the changing meaning of work and human care, and the responsibilities humans may have toward the artificial agents they create. The first day of the conference featured keynote presentations by Lynne Baillie and Arno Klein. The program also included two sessions: “Environmental Robotics and Society”, chaired by Oliver Bendel, and “Responsible Technology Development”, chaired by Sun Park. Several workshops complemented the program, offering additional perspectives on the social, ethical, and environmental dimensions of robotics and artificial intelligence. The Robophilosophy Conference 2026 provides a space for dialogue between technological, philosophical, social-scientific, and environmental perspectives. At its core is the question of how technological innovation can be shaped not only to create new possibilities, but also to contribute to a humane, just, and sustainable future. Further details are available at www.ucd.ie/robophilosophy2026/.

Posted on

ACI 2026: Registration Now Open

The ACI 2026 International Conference will take place from December 2–5, 2026, on the FHNW campus in Brugg-Windisch, Switzerland, marking the first time the event is held in continental Europe. Registration is now open, with Early Bird rates available until September 30, 2026. The conference continues a tradition that has brought the Animal-Computer Interaction community to Glasgow, North Carolina, Newcastle, Bloomington, Milton Keynes, Haifa, and Atlanta, reinforcing its position as a leading venue for research at the intersection of animals and technology. As the field continues to grow, researchers and practitioners explore how technology shapes animals’ lives, welfare, cognition, and social dynamics while developing animal-centered systems and methods that embrace multispecies perspectives. The conference maintains its commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration across biology, technology, and cultural studies, supporting work that seeks to design ethically grounded, welfare-enhancing, and inclusive technological futures for all animals, humans included. ACI 2026 also features a Special Issue on Animal-Machine Interaction. The proceedings will be published in the ACM library. The conference will be hosted by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (Photo: Pati Grabowicz).

Posted on

Terms and Concepts Introduced by Oliver Bendel

Since 2012, Oliver Bendel has introduced or significantly shaped a number of terms and concepts in academic discourse, particularly in the fields of machine ethics, social robotics, and the philosophy of technology. The Munchausen machine (Münchhausen-Maschine) refers to an immoral machine that systematically generates or disseminates falsehoods. The LIEBOT (LÜGENBOT) is a specific implementation of this concept. It is a chatbot conceived by Bendel and realized as a prototype that systematically tells lies. The project was used to explore the capabilities, risks, and ethical implications of deceptive dialogue systems. The reversed cyborg, also referred to as the inverted cyborg, describes the counterpart of the classical cyborg: instead of integrating technical structures into biological ones, it incorporates biological structures into technical ones. Robot enhancement refers to the deliberate extension and improvement of robots by adding sensory, motor, cognitive, or communicative capabilities and constitutes the counterpart to human enhancement. A wearable social robot is a social robot that is worn on the body or attached to clothing and accompanies its user through communication, assistance, or social interaction in everyday life. With “mythomorphic design”, Bendel describes an approach to robot design in which the models are drawn not from humans or animals but from figures found in mythology, fantasy, or science fiction. Animal-Machine Interaction (AMI) is a field of research and application that Bendel has significantly shaped, though he did not coin the term itself. It systematically examines interactions between animals and machines while addressing both technical and ethical issues. Its primary focus is the design and development of machines for interaction with animals rather than the study of animals themselves, extending to the creation of animal-friendly machines. Machine ethics also plays an important role in this field. The proxy machine with proxy morality is a concept in machine ethics according to which a machine acts as a moral proxy by executing moral rules defined by humans, without itself possessing consciousness or responsibility. Other important approaches in this field include annotated decision trees and morality menus (Photo: Jork Weismann).

Posted on

Fundamentals and Examples of Animal-Machine Interaction

On June 23, 2026, Oliver Bendel gave a presentation on animal-machine interaction to Prof. Dr. Emily Cross’s research group at ETH Zurich. He had been invited by Dr. Amol Deshmukh, whom he had met at the ICSR in Qatar and had seen several times since then. rom the announcement text : “Animal-Machine Interaction (AMI) explores encounters and interactions between animals and machines – from traditional devices, vehicles, aircraft, and agricultural machinery to networked autonomous robots and AI systems. At its core are perception through sensors and senses, interaction and communication between animals and machines, and the question of how these encounters can be designed from technical, organizational, and ethical perspectives to reduce risks for animals while unlocking benefits for both animals and humans. In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel presents the fundamentals of Animal-Machine Interaction and describes prototypes and research projects in the field. He also outlines what may become possible and what can be expected in this area of research over the coming years.” The participants were very interested and asked several questions about this new and fascinating field. Springer Gabler recently published a slim volume titled “Tier-Maschine-Interaktion (Animal-Machine Interaction)” by Oliver Bendel.

Posted on

New Submission Deadline for ACI 2026

The Animal-Computer Interaction International Conference 2026 (ACI 2026) invites contributions for its thirteenth edition. The conference seeks theoretical, methodological, empirical, and ethical work that advances dialogue around animal-centered research and the design of computing-enabled systems. ACI brings together perspectives from computer science, informatics, engineering, interaction design, animal behavior and welfare science, veterinary science, ecology, sociology, philosophy, and related disciplines, with the aim of further developing Animal-Computer Interaction as a field. In an increasingly networked world shaped by pervasive technologies, animals – both human and nonhuman – are entangled in complex webs of interaction. These interactions may be direct or indirect, physical or cognitive, distributed or dyadic, synchronous or asynchronous. Contributions are encouraged that critically examine how technology shapes human-animal relationships, how large-scale technological deployments affect animals, and how future systems can be designed responsibly and ethically. The conference also welcomes submissions in Animal-Machine Interaction (AMI), which explores interaction and communication between animals and machines, including autonomous systems such as drones and robots. AMI focuses on designing machines that benefit animals and safeguard their interests, supporting survival and well-being. The submission deadline for Research Papers and Emerging Work Papers has been extended by one week and is now May 22, 2026. The deadline for Workshop Proposals remains unchanged at June 1, 2026. All submissions will be peer-reviewed. Further information is available at www.aciconf.org, and submission details can be found at www.aciconf.org/call-for-contributions.

Posted on

The Discipline of Animal-Machine Interaction

Oliver Bendel’s paper “Towards a Discipline of Animal-Machine Interaction” has been accepted for presentation at Robophilosophy 2026. The renowned conference on the philosophical aspects of social robotics has been held since 2014 and will take place in Dublin this year. Autonomous and semi-autonomous machines such as robots and drones are increasingly moving into natural and urban environments, leading to a growing number of interactions between animals and machines and raising corresponding new ethical and conceptual challenges. This article proposes animal-machine interaction (AMI) as a distinct discipline concerned with the design and governance of machines that encounter animals. After clarifying core concepts and delineating AMI from related fields, the article highlights the role of machine ethics in developing animal-friendly systems. Selected application examples illustrate how machines can support animal survival and well-being, while the ethical discussion addresses both opportunities and risks of technological intervention in animal habitats. It is becoming clear that AMI is an increasingly important field of research, but one that must be constantly reoriented and questioned. Oliver Bendel has participated in the biennial conference series since 2018. That year, he delivered a keynote speech in Vienna alongside Hiroshi Ishiguro, Guy Standing, and Joanna Bryson. His book “Tier-Maschine-Interaktion” (“Animal-Machine Interaction”) was recently published by Springer Gabler.

Posted on

Introduction to Animal-Machine Interaction

On April 20, 2026, the book “Tier-Maschine-Interaktion/Animal-Machine Interaction” by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel was published by Springer Gabler. It is part of the Essentials series, which features concise books (50–60 pages) that present key ideas in a clear and focused way. The field of research overlaps with Animal-Computer Interaction and is also referred to as Animal-Machine Interaction. From the back cover: “This essential provides a compact introduction to the discipline and the research and application field of Animal-Machine Interaction (AMI). It shows how animals and machines encounter and coexist with one another in different contexts, what opportunities and risks arise from this, and what perspectives emerge for science, business, and politics. The aim is to raise readers’ awareness of the potential and challenges of Animal-Machine Interaction, offer guidance in the interdisciplinary discourse, and provide impulses for research, development, and decision-making processes.” Oliver Bendel has been working on Animal-Machine Interaction since 2012 and has developed several animal-friendly machines. Following numerous articles and book contributions, this is his first book dedicated to this field of research. It includes two figures, three tables, and several boxed sections with definitions and background information. It can be downloaded or purchased at link.springer.com/book/9783658509200.

Posted on

ACI 2026 Extends Submission Deadline

The Animal-Computer Interaction International Conference 2026 (ACI 2026) invites contributions for its thirteenth edition. The conference seeks theoretical, methodological, empirical, and ethical work that advances dialogue around animal-centered research and the design of computing-enabled systems. ACI brings together perspectives from computer science, informatics, engineering, interaction design, animal behavior and welfare science, veterinary science, ecology, sociology, philosophy, and related disciplines, with the aim of further developing Animal-Computer Interaction as a field. In an increasingly networked world shaped by pervasive technologies, animals – both human and nonhuman – are entangled in complex webs of interaction. These interactions may be direct or indirect, physical or cognitive, distributed or dyadic, synchronous or asynchronous. Contributions are encouraged that critically examine how technology shapes human-animal relationships, how large-scale technological deployments affect animals, and how future systems can be designed responsibly and ethically. The conference also welcomes submissions in Animal-Machine Interaction (AMI), which explores interaction and communication between animals and machines, including autonomous systems such as drones and robots. AMI focuses on designing machines that benefit animals and safeguard their interests, supporting survival and well-being. The submission deadline for Research Papers and Emerging Work Papers has been extended by two weeks and is now May 15, 2026. The deadline for Workshop Proposals remains unchanged at June 1, 2026. All submissions will be peer-reviewed. Further information is available at www.aciconf.org, and submission details can be found at www.aciconf.org/call-for-contributions.