Tag: ACI

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.

Posted on

The Animal Whisperer in the Spotlight

At the STEAM Challenge 2026, held under the motto “Innovation under Pressure”, six projects competed against each other on March 3, 2026, at Spirgarten Zurich. Among them were Autobike by Daniel Lagnaux and Mark Bezmalinovic from ETH Zurich, and Repair Scanner by Aron Bienge, a master carpenter. The evening was hosted by Sara Taubman-Hildebrand, while comedians Gülsha Adilji, Reena Krishnaraja, and Zukkihund provided additional entertainment with humorous interludes, interpreting the projects in their own way. More than 200 people filled the hall and remained in excellent spirits throughout the two-hour event. One of the projects presented was the Animal Whisperer, initiated by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel from the School of Business FHNW. His student at the time, Nick Zbinden, implemented the Cow Whisperer, Horse Whisperer, and Dog Whisperer on his behalf. A multimodal large language model (MLLM) was endowed with the desired capabilities using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). The system first analyzes and evaluates the body language of cows, horses, or dogs as well as the overall situation. It then provides recommendations for how humans should behave when interacting with the animals. At Animal-Computer Interaction 2024 in Glasgow, Oliver Bendel and Nick Zbinden had already received an award for their paper “The Animal Whisperer Project: A GenAI App for Decoding Animal Body Language and Behavior”. In her interpretation, Gülsha Adilji also saw potential for dating – suggesting that the body language of men could be interpreted as well. Jury member Nathalie Klauser praised the Animal Whisperer Project for incorporating animals. In the end, BlueGreens by Sebastian Haymann took first place. The audience award went to Zurich pupils Nina Zvezdina and Poppy Alexander.

Posted on

Keynote Speakers at ACI 2026

Arianna Ferrari, PhD, and Dr. iur. Dr. h.c. Antoine F. Goetschel will deliver the conference keynote addresses at the Animal-Computer Interaction International Conference 2026 (ACI 2026) at the FHNW Campus in Brugg-Windisch, Switzerland. Arianna Ferrari, PhD, is based at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria’s largest research and technology organization. She is an ethicist and philosopher of science and technology with extensive experience in technology assessment, the critical evaluation of visions of technological futures (vision assessment), foresight, and human-animal studies. Dr. iur. Dr. h.c. Antoine F. Goetschel is a lawyer and former official animal lawyer for the Canton of Zurich in Switzerland. For more than three decades, he has worked at the intersection of law, ethics, and public policy, representing the interests of animals within legal systems and contributing to the development of animal protection standards at both national and international levels. The ACI International Conference is the leading conference in the field of animal-computer interaction. This year, the conference, hosted by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel, will include a dedicated call for contributions on animal-machine interaction. Further information is available at www.aciconf.org.

Posted on

ACI 2026 Calls for Submissions

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. Research Papers and Emerging Work Papers are due May 1, 2026, and Workshop Proposals are due 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

ACI Conference in Switzerland

Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel will host the next ACI Conference, marking the first time the event comes to continental Europe as it convenes on the FHNW campus in Brugg-Windisch, Switzerland, from 2-5 December 2026. Building on a tradition that has taken the community from Glasgow to North Carolina, Newcastle, Bloomington, Milton Keynes, Haifa and Atlanta, this edition continues the conference’s role as the premier venue for advancing Animal-Computer Interaction. As the field grows, researchers and practitioners explore how technology shapes animals’ lives, wellbeing, 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. The proceedings will be published in a volume of a renowned organization. The official conference website will go live in January 2026. Information on previous ACI conferences is available at www.aciconf.org.

Posted on

The Hippo in the Mud

On November 10, 2025, the article “There’s a Large Hippo Resting in the Mud” by Oliver Bendel and Doris Jovic was published introducing the VISUAL project. “VISUAL” stands for “Virtual Inclusive Safaris for Unique Adventures and Learning”. All over the world, there are webcams showing wild animals. Sighted people can use them to go on photo and video safaris comfortably from their sofas. Blind and visually impaired people are at a disadvantage here. As part of Inclusive AI, the project developed a prototype specifically for them. Public webcams around the world that are directed at wild animals are tapped. Users can choose between several habitats on land or in water. They can also select “Adult” or “Child” as a profile and choose a role (“Safari Adventurer”, “Field Scientist”, “Calm Observer”). When the live video is accessed, three screenshots are taken and combined into a bundle. This bundle is analyzed and evaluated by GPT-4o, an MLLM. The user then hears a spoken description of the scene and the activities. The project is likely one of the first to combine Inclusive AI with new approaches in Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI). The article was published in Wiley Industry News and can be accessed at: wileyindustrynews.com/en/contributions/theres-a-large-hippo-resting-in-the-mud. It should be noted that it is also available in German.

Posted on

Decoding Animal Language with AI

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and bioacoustics have opened a unique opportunity to explore and decode animal communication. With the growing availability of bioacoustic data and sophisticated machine learning models, researchers are now in a position to make significant strides in understanding non-human animal languages. However, realizing this potential requires a deliberate integration of AI and ethology. The AI for Non-Human Animal Communication workshop at NeurIPS 2025 will focus on the challenges of processing complex bioacoustic data and interpreting animal signals. The workshop will feature keynote talks, a poster session, and a panel discussion, all aimed at advancing the use of AI to uncover the mysteries of animal communication and its implications for biodiversity and ecological conservation. The workshop is inviting submissions for short papers and proposals related to the use of AI in animal communication. Topics of interest include bioacoustics, multimodal learning, ecological monitoring, species-specific studies, and the ethical considerations of applying AI in animal research. Papers should present novel research, methodologies, or technologies in these areas, and will undergo a double-blind review process. The paper submission deadline is September 5, 2025, with notifications of acceptance by September 22, 2025. More information is available at aiforanimalcomms.org.