Previous editions
HumanTech Summit 2023
The second conference was a meeting between man and technology, which aimed to emphasize the seriousness of their healthy relationship. Human Tech Summit 2023 was an opportunity to bring together leading scientists and industry leaders from around the world to present the results of their research and talk about their experiences and ideas for the future. The 2023 Keynote Speakers were:
Christian Klaes (Ruhr University, Germany) - Virtual Bodies
Zillah Watson (Phase Space) - VR for mental health – out of the lab, into the world
Anna Ciaunica (University of Lisbon, Portugal) - Hybrid Agencies in Biological and Artificial Systems
Michał Kosiński (Stanford University, USA) - Making Sense of Modern AI
Anne Scherer (Delta Labs AG, ex University of Zurich, Switzerland) - The Symbiosis of Language and Technology: A New Era of Business Communication
Selma Sabanovic (Indiana University, USA) - Broadening participation in HRI: Co-design with older adults, children, and their caregivers
Jonathan Gratch (Univeristy of Southern California, USA) - How delegating to AI can weaken social ties and encourage unethical behavior.
Key Topics & Agenda
The 2023 edition, held on December 9-10, covered themes such as:
- The future of the labor marketRead more →
The future of the labor market
Automation and AI are reshaping which jobs exist, how we do them and what skills matter. We asked who wins, who loses and how people can stay in control of their working lives.
What we explored
- Which tasks and professions AI is changing first – and how fast
- Reskilling, lifelong learning and the new role of universities
- Fair transitions: workers' rights, wellbeing and the meaning of work
Why it still matters
The debate is only getting more urgent as generative AI enters every office. HumanTech Summit 2026 picks up these questions with fresh research and practitioners from the field.
- Social roboticsRead more →
Social robotics
Robots that talk, read emotions and keep us company are moving from the lab into homes, schools and care facilities. We looked at what happens when machines become social partners.
What we explored
- How people perceive, trust and attribute minds to robots
- Social robots in elderly care, therapy and education
- Design and ethical limits of emotionally engaging machines
Why it still matters
Human-robot interaction remains one of the summit's core themes – in 2026 it continues as a full track with researchers and live demos.
- Immersive technologies (AR/VR)Read more →
Immersive technologies (AR/VR)
Virtual and augmented reality let us train, heal, learn and meet in spaces that do not physically exist. We explored what immersion does to the mind and where it truly helps.
What we explored
- VR in therapy, rehabilitation and exposure treatment
- Immersive learning and training – evidence beyond the hype
- Presence, embodiment and the psychological effects of virtual worlds
Why it still matters
As headsets get lighter and spatial computing goes mainstream, the human questions behind immersion matter more than ever – and return in the 2026 program.
- GamingRead more →
Gaming
Games are the world's largest entertainment medium and a powerful tool for learning, health and social connection. We looked past the stereotypes at what play does to us.
What we explored
- Serious games and gamification in education and therapy
- Gaming, wellbeing and problematic use – what the research shows
- Communities, identity and social life in online games
Why it still matters
Play shapes how a whole generation learns and connects. The summit keeps bringing game researchers and industry together – join the conversation in 2026.
- Interpersonal relationships in the context of technologyRead more →
Interpersonal relationships in the context of technology
We meet, date, argue and stay in touch through screens – and increasingly talk to machines as if they were people. We asked how technology changes the way we relate to each other.
What we explored
- Online dating, messaging and the new rules of intimacy
- Families, friendships and loneliness in a connected world
- AI companions and chatbots as relationship partners
Why it still matters
With AI companions now in millions of pockets, these questions have only grown. HumanTech Summit 2026 continues them with psychologists, designers and technologists.
There were over 50 speakers in total, with a strong focus on discussions around how technology reshapes human interaction and professional fields like law and business.
HumanTech Summit 2022
The first conference under the name Human Tech Summit, which was created as part of the Human Tech Meetings project. However, this was not the first conference organised by the Centre for Social and Technological Innovation. The conference covered a variety of issues, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, virtual reality (VR), metaverse, robotics, cyborgization, and the Internet of Things. Conference sessions addressed not only the role of new technologies in education, medicine, and arts, but also the threats posed by technological omnipresence. Keynote Speakers for this edition were:
Youyou Wu (University College London, UK) - The evolution of personality judgement: from human intuition to machine automation.
Tara S. Behrend (Purdue University, USA) - How to Measure What We Cannot See
Moshe Y. Vardi (Rice University, USA) - Technology and Democracy
Nathanael J. Fast (USC Marshall School of Business, USA) - The Psychology of Technology at Work: Anticipating Organizations in the Age of AI
Andrew H. Schwartz (Stony Brook University, USA) - Psychological Assessment in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Speakers and Panels:
The event also featured 50+ expert speakers, including academics, industry leaders, and tech innovators, who contributed to various thought-provoking panels and discussions. Their topics ranged from artificial intelligence and virtual reality to data privacy, technological ethics, and the future of democracy in the digital age. These sessions offered a deep dive into how cutting-edge technologies are reshaping our world and how we can harness them for societal good.