IJCAI 2025: Social Media Round-up from Montreal AI Conference
The 34th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI-25) is currently underway in Montréal, Canada, drawing a global assembly of researchers, practitioners, and students to explore the cutting edge of artificial intelligence. The initial days of the conference, which officially commenced its main program on Tuesday, August 19, were dedicated to a series of intensive tutorials and workshops, alongside a vital doctoral consortium designed to support emerging AI talent.
The formal opening ceremony on Tuesday marked a significant transition from preparatory sessions to the main conference agenda. Conference Chair Shlomo Zilberstein extended a warm welcome to participants, setting the stage for a week of profound discussions and groundbreaking presentations. The day’s agenda was packed, featuring an anticipated invited talk by renowned expert Bernhard Schölkopf, a guided tour of the AI Art Gallery, and the prestigious IJCAI-25 John McCarthy Award Talk, delivered by Cynthia Rudin. Throughout the day, technical sessions and poster presentations offered attendees a comprehensive overview of the latest research findings. Awards were presented by Christian Bessiere, former IJCAI President, on behalf of Zhi-Hua Zhou, President of the IJCAI Board of Trustees, recognizing significant contributions to the field.
Beyond the main sessions, the conference features a diverse array of specialized workshops and symposia. Among these is the second IJCAI AI for Good Symposium in Africa, hosted by Deep Learning Indaba, which focused on leveraging AI for societal benefit and sustainable development goals. Another notable event is the Workshop on User-Aligned Assessment of Adaptive AI Systems, which promises a robust program of invited speakers and technical presentations exploring how AI systems can better align with human values and intentions. The Computational Fair Division (CFD) workshop also garnered attention, offering a forum for discussion on equitable resource allocation in AI contexts, featuring prominent speakers and a thought-provoking panel.
The collaborative spirit of IJCAI-25 is evident not only in its formal sessions but also in the vibrant interactions among attendees. Researchers like Derek S. Prijatelj are presenting novel work, such as an incremental online learning benchmark designed to test AI systems’ ability to detect and adapt to new, unforeseen phenomena. Similarly, attendees like William H. Hsu are actively engaging with the community, fostering discussions on topics ranging from social choice theory and qualitative reasoning to the complexities of deepfakes, safe AI, and large language models (LLMs). A key message resonating from the Doctoral Consortium, as highlighted by Peter Stone, underscores the critical importance of communicating research effectively, emphasizing that “If no one learns about your work, it’s as if it never happened. Communication is vital for impact.”
In a move to engage the wider public, IJCAI-25 is hosting an admission-free AI Lounge. This public forum, titled “AI Between Wonder and Caution,” provides a unique opportunity for non-specialists to engage with leading experts like Heng Ji, Kate Larson, and Cynthia Rudin, moderated by journalist Gabrielle Anctil. The lounge aims to demystify AI and discuss its societal implications in an accessible, fireplace-like setting. The conference also highlights emerging voices, such as Liliane-Caroline Demers, a student communication coordinator from Polytechnique Montréal, whose research into AI-generated music exemplifies the innovative applications being explored within the field. As IJCAI-25 continues, it reinforces Montréal’s position as a nexus for global AI discourse, fostering both cutting-edge research and vital public engagement.