Human-Centered AI in Translation and Interpreting:
Concepts, Workflows and Competence Development

General Information

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the theoretical foundations of translation and interpreting studies, the workflows of the language industry and the training of future language professionals. From machine translation and speech technologies to adaptive learning systems and multimodal communication tools, AI is being integrated into professional and educational practices at an accelerating rate. Due to this rapid development, the following key question emerges: How can we ensure that new AI-based technologies remain human-centered and grounded in legal and ethical principles, while also aligning with the needs and values of the people these technologies are meant to serve? The Department of Translation Studies at the University of Innsbruck is hosting an international conference from September 23 to 26, 2026, dedicated to this central question.

There will be an opportunity to publish selected submissions in an edited collection or a special journal issue dedicated to human-centered AI in translation.
 

Conference Languages: English and German

Deadline for Abstract Submission: February 28, 2026

Notification of Acceptance: by March 31, 2026

Contact: Dr. Katharina Walter (katharina.walter@uibk.ac.at) and Asst. Prof. Dr. Marco Agnetta (marco.agnetta@uibk.ac.at)

Research Committee

Marco Agnetta (University of Innsbruck), Martina Behr (University of Innsbruck), Maria Constantinou (University of Cyprus), Laura Giacomini (University of Innsbruck), Barbara Heinisch (Eurac Research/University of Vienna), Alexa Lintner (ZHAW), Anna-Katharina Linzner (University of Innsbruck), Franz Meier (University of Augsburg), Bianca Prandi (University of Bologna), Linda Prossliner (University of Innsbruck), Mehmet Şahin (Boğaziçi University), Astrid Schmidhofer (University of Innsbruck), Katharina Walter (University of Innsbruck)

Keynote Lectures

Asst. Prof. Dr. Waltraud Kolb (University of Vienna), Prof. Dr. Ralph Krüger (Technical University of Cologne), Prof. Miguel Jiménez-Crespo (Rutgers University) and Dr. Joel Snyder (Audio Description Associates) have confirmed their availability as keynote speakers.

Sponsors

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Conférence internationale permanente d'instituts universitaires de traducteurs et interprètes, the "Cultural Encounters – Cultural Conflicts" research area, the Department of Translation Studies, the Faculty of Language, Literature and Culture, the International Relations Office, the Office of the Vice Rector for Research, the Province of Tyrol and the Swiss Embassy in Austria, whose financial support makes this event possible.