Call for Papers AI-MetaACES 2026

Cultivating Symbiotic Ecosystems: Agency, Ethics, and Identity in AI-Mediated Worlds

Call for Papers:

APSCE 4th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse and Artificial Companions in Education and Society (AI-MetaACES) 2026

Overview

The 4th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse and Artificial Companions in Education and Society (AI-MetaACES 2026) will take place on June 25–27, 2026, in Kumamoto, Japan.

This year’s theme, “Cultivating Symbiotic Ecosystems: Agency, Ethics, and Identity in AI-Mediated Worlds,” highlights the complex and emergent human–technology relationships forged at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, immersive Metaverse environments, and personalized Artificial Companions. As these technologies move from novelty to infrastructure—especially in education and civil society—AI-MetaACES 2026 invites researchers and practitioners to examine how human identity, learning pathways, and ethical governance are being negotiated within these dynamic, intelligent spaces.

AI-MetaACES 2026 brings together global researchers, educators, policymakers, and industry experts to share and discuss the latest findings and strategic approaches concerning the socio-educational impact and ethical implications of this powerful technological convergence. The conference offers a dedicated space to examine how human and artificial consciousnesses interact, how the Metaverse facilitates new forms of collaborative learning and social organization, and how Artificial Companions influence human cognition and well-being. Rather than focusing solely on the engineering challenges of AI and VR systems, the conference centers on the profound shifts these technologies catalyze in human behavior, learning, and society.

Themes of Interest

We invite submissions that address cutting-edge research, case studies, best practices, and emerging trends in the following topics (but not limited to these):

Immersive Learning & Social Presence in the Metaverse
  • Design principles for multimodal, embodied interaction and learning in educational Metaverses
  • Metrics and measurement of social presence, collaboration, and engagement in virtual learning spaces
  • Challenges and opportunities for accessibility and equitable access to immersive educational technologies
The Evolving Role of Artificial Companions & Social AI
  • Impact of persistent, personalized AI companions on motivation, emotional regulation, and well-being
  • Designing ethical and transparent mechanisms for Companion-to-Companion or Companion-to-Human interaction in social settings
  • Studies on the development of long-term trust, attachment, and dependency in human-AI companion relationships
Agency, Identity, and the Digital Self
  • Theoretical frameworks exploring the negotiation of digital and physical identity in hyper-personalized, AI-mediated environments
  • The role of AI and the Metaverse in shaping user agency and control over data, narratives, and interactions
  • Governance for digital assets, ownership, and the “right to be forgotten” in persistent virtual worlds
Ethics, Trust, & Governance in Symbiotic Ecosystems
  • Development of responsible AI frameworks and policy guidelines for deploying generative AI and companions in K-12 and higher education
  • Investigating issues of bias, fairness, and algorithmic discrimination within Metaverse content moderation and companion personalization
  • Auditing and transparency requirements for AI-driven decision-making processes impacting learning pathways or social recommendations
Future Skills & Pedagogies for AI-Mediated Futures
  • New curricula and instructional strategies using immersive AI and companion technologies
  • The essential literacies and competencies required by students and educators to effectively navigate and critique the AI-Metaverse convergence
  • Case studies on large-scale adoption, scalability, and economic models for integrating these technologies into institutional practice

Publication

Accepted papers in the main conference will be published in the proceedings of the APSCE Library.

Authors of accepted distinguished full papers may be invited to submit extended versions for consideration in top-tier journals. Details will be announced later.

Conference Chairs

Program Chair

Xuesong Michael Zhai

Zhejiang University, China

Program Co-Chair

Jon Chao Hong

National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

Program Co-Chair

Longwei Zheng

City University of Macau, Macau

Program Co-Chair

Fuzheng ZHAO

Jilin University, China

Program Co-Chair

Longkai Wu

Central Chinese Normal University, China

Program Co-Chair

Yanjie SONG

The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Steering Committee

Chair

Maiga Chang

Athabasca University, Canada

Co-Chair

Tak-Wai Chan

National Central University, Taiwan

Co-Chair

Siu-Cheung Kong

The Education University of Hong Kong

Members
  • Hiroaki Ogata Kyoto University, Japan
  • Biswas Gautam Vanderbilt University, USA
  • Chee-Kit Looi The Education University of Hong Kong, China
  • Ying-Tien Wu National Central University, Taiwan
  • Antonija Mitrovic University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Contact

Questions about AI-MetaACES 2026?

Please contact the organizing committee.

xszhai@zju.edu.cn

See Submission & Important Dates for deadlines and registration details.