2026 Symposium on Globally Beneficial AI

Overview

The one-day symposium will explore how AI can be designed and deployed to deliver equitable benefits and opportunities for people around the world. Hosted by the University of Washington’s Center for Globally Beneficial AI, the event will convene approximately 40 experts from UW, the tech industry, and nonprofit organizations to collaboratively shape the future of globally beneficial AI. Through focused small-group discussions, participants will identify pressing research questions and challenges, sparking cross-disciplinary dialogue and new collaborations. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Goals

Find action groups amongst symposium participants, leading to research projects, organization collaborations, and more!

Logistics

WHEN: Friday, November 13th, 2026 from 8:30a.m. to 4:00p.m.
WHERE: Zillow Commons (4th Floor) Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering (CSE2), University of Washington
  Seattle Campus [View on Google Maps]
HOW TO ATTEND: Due to capacity constraints, this event is invite-only.

Tentative: Fireside chat

Noah Smith

Noah Smith

UW Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Attendees

Andrew Meltzoff

Andrew Meltzoff

UW Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences

Aylin Caliskan

Aylin Caliskan

UW Information School and RAISE

Christian Lee Novetzke

Christian Lee Novetzke

Henry M. Jackson Foundation of International Studies

Emily Tseng

Emily Tseng

UW Human Centered Design & Engineering

Huatong Sun

Huatong Sun

UW Tacoma, Culture, Arts and Communication

Jaemarie Solyst

Jaemarie Solyst

UW Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Jevan Hutson

Jevan Hutson

UW Law and Tech Policy Lab

Katharina Reinecke

Katharina Reinecke

UW Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Ryan Burns

Ryan Burns

Responsible AI Washington

Lucas Meyer

Lucas Meyer

Microsoft

Lucía Magis-Weinberg

Lucía Magis-Weinberg

UW Department of Psychology and interACTlab

Melanie Martin

Melanie Martin

UW Department of Anthropology

Paula Saravia

Paula Saravia

UW Department of Anthropology

Ryan Calo

Ryan Calo

UW Law and Tech Policy Lab

Student Volunteers

Javon Hickmon

Javon Hickmon

Ph.D. Student

Jeffrey Basoah

Jeffrey Basoah

Ph.D. Student

Julie Yu

Julie Yu

Undergraduate Student

Katelyn Mei

Katelyn Mei

Ph.D. Student

Kirandeep Kaur

Kirandeep Kaur

Ph.D. Student

Wangechi Kariuki

Wangechi Kariuki

Ph.D. Student

Agenda

Time Program
8:30am - 9:15am Welcome remarks
Light breakfast, coffee, tea
9:15am - 10:45am Session #1: Small-group discussions on globally beneficial AI (chaired by Raj Rao and Katharina Reinecke)
10:45am - 11:15am Coffee break
11:15am - 12:45pm Session #2: Small-group discussions on opportunities and risks (chaired by Kurtis Heimerl and Ben Shapiro)
12:45pm - 1:15pm Lunch
1:15pm - 2:00pm Presentations of Session #2 outcomes
2:00pm - 3:30pm Session #3: Actionable steps towards globally beneficial AI (chaired by Tanu Mitra and Daniela Rosner)
3:30pm - 4:00pm Cookies and tea break
4:00pm - 5:15pm Presentations of Session #3 outcomes
5:15pm - 5:30pm Closing remarks