The eigth CONVERSATIONS workshop on chatbots and human-centred AI took place at CERTH in Thessaloniki, Greece. Also this time several sHAI members were amongst the antendees and enjoyed two days of insightful presentations, lively discussions, and networking opportunities. It was a pleasure to explore the latest research and trends shaping the future of conversational AI.
A Keynote Highlight
One of the highlights of the event was the keynote by Professor Benjamin R. Cowan. Professor Cowan offered valuable insights into the critical aspects of perspective-taking, partner models, and user behavior in conversational interactions. His talk sparked a lively debate among participants, highlighting the importance of understanding language interactions with these types of conversational partners.
Presentations and best paper nomination
Several sHAI members shared their latest research insights, amongst them Roel Boumans who presented a study on the impact of digital voting assistants on young adults, and focus group results on a voice-enabled intelligent virtual agent for people with memory impairments. Anouck Braggaar talked about human-chatbot customer service conversations and showed her analysis of patterns of conversational breakdown. We were especially proud of Nele Pralat, who presented her research on empathy in conversational AI, as her paper was nominated for the best paper award.
Exploring Fairness and Bias
Day two saw participants engage in group work focused on the crucial topic of fairness and bias in human-centered AI. The discussions were thought-provoking, emphasizing the need for responsible AI development that avoids perpetuating harmful biases and ensures equitable access for all users.
Networking and Collaboration
Beyond the presentations and discussions, the workshop fostered a strong sense of community. The social dinner in the heart of Thessaloniki provided a relaxed setting for attendees to connect, share ideas, and build lasting relationships. As always, we valued the collaborative spirit throughout the entire workshop where participants from diverse backgrounds shared their expertise and insights.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the organizers, especially Symeon (Akis) Papadopoulos and Asbjørn Følstad who led us through the days. CONVERSATIONS serves as a valuable platform for researchers from different disciplines to share their knowledge and collaborate on the future of conversational AI, and we are looking forward to the next editions.
Presentations
First Aid for Europe – A Study on the Impact of Digital Voting Assistants on Young Adults During the Elections for the European Parliament in 2024 (full paper). Nina Van Zanten and Roel Boumans
Feeling Understood by AI: How Empathy Shapes Trust and Influences Patronage Intentions in Conversational AI (full paper). Nele Pralat, Carolin Ischen and Hilde Voorveld
Analyzing Patterns of Conversational Breakdown in Human-Chatbot Customer Service Conversations (full paper). Anouck Braggaar, Florian Kunneman and Emiel van Miltenburg
A Voice-Enabled Intelligent Virtual Agent for People with Memory Impairments: Thematic Analysis of Focus Group Results (full paper). Roel Boumans, Serge Thill, Debby Gerritsen and Tibor Bosse

Picture: sHAI members at CONVERSATIONS, from left to right: Roel Boumans, Leo Block Santos, Nele Pralat, Carolin Ischen, Gabriëlla Martijn, Anouck Braggaar
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