Artificial Intelligence and Sociocybernetics: new perspectives for Social Theory and Practice
Krakow University of Economics, Poland. 24 – 29 June 2024
The International Conference of Sociocybernetics proudly continues its tradition of exploring the complex interplay between society and technology. This year, in the picturesque city of Krakow, we delve into the rapidly evolving realm of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly focusing on its integration within the framework of sociocybernetics. The conference, scheduled for June 2024, seeks to bring together a diverse group of scholars, researchers, and practitioners to engage in a multidisciplinary dialogue about AI’s role in societal dynamics, drawing on the foundational concepts of sociocybernetics as a science of society that emphasizes the recursive relationship between individuals, social structures, and collective emergent phenomena.
Drawing inspiration from Ludwig von Bertalanffy’s systems theory and Norbert Wiener’s principles of cybernetics, this conference seeks to dissect and understand the role of AI in societal systems. The focus will be on unraveling the complexities of AI-driven interactions within social structures, analyzing both the benefits and challenges they present.
Krakow University of Economic will be an outstanding venue for this Conference, wich is organized under the auspices of the Rector of the Krakow University of Economics, Assoc. Prof. dr hab. Stanisław Mazur, with the coordination of Assoc. Prof. dr hab. Czesław Mesjasz as Chair of the local organising committee and the ISA Research Committee on Sociocybernetics (RC51) Board organising international team.
The 18th International Congress on Sociocybernetics in Krakow, Poland, June 24-June 29, 2024 will be in a hybrid format. While we strongly advise and encourage everyone to come to Krakow and enjoy in-person participation in the Congress, online presentations will also be possible. Oral sessions will be a mix of in-person and virtual presenters, based on the presenters’ preferences.
Key Topics:
| The Evolution of AI and Societal Impact: | Tracing the journey from Turing’s conceptualization of computational intelligence to Searle’s Chinese Room Argument, we will re-examine these classic debates in light of modern AI advancements, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs). |
| First and Second Order Cybernetics in AI: | Exploring the distinction between these two forms of cybernetics, we aim to understand how AI, as an observing system (second-order cybernetics), impacts and is impacted by social systems. |
| Large Language Models and Society: | Special emphasis will be given to the role of LLMs as advanced tools in shaping communication, public opinion, and social dynamics. We will delve into the implications of these models, reflecting upon their potential as actors or partners in communication, inspired by Elena Esposito’s perspectives on ‘artificial communication’. |
| Ethics and Responsibility in AI Deployment: | Addressing the ethical quandaries and responsibilities in deploying AI within social structures. How do we reconcile the benefits of AI with the potential risks and societal impacts? |
| AI-driven Social Dynamics: | Investigating how AI technologies, especially LLMs, are reshaping various aspects of society, including politics, education, media, and interpersonal relationships. |
| Human vs AI biocapital: | AI is opening new frontiers in the use and replicability of human tissues which have been so far reproduced within and by the human bodies (sperm and eggs, embryos, milk, hair, blood, placenta) and around which bio-markets have arisen. What are the social implications of an increased overlap between natural and artificial in human bodies and organic processes? Which are the specific implications for women? |
| AI, sociotechnical processes and social intervention: | The digital transition is allowing the use of massive data to improve the prediction capacity and decision-making of social intervention linked to public services. How is AI transforming the way social interventions is designed and implemented? What is the potential of its use and what are the risks and blind spots? |
Attention will be also given to the links between the second order cybernetics and governance of AI at various levels of societal hierarchy. The papers on other topics related to sociocybernetics and AI are also welcome.
Submission Guidelines:
Abstracts should be on 500-750 words, clearly stating the research problem, objectives, methodology, results, and implications. Use the following link for submission. http://tinyurl.com/2024RC51CONFERENCE
We welcome original research papers, case studies, and review articles that align with the conference theme. Submissions should be in English, not exceeding 8,000 words, including references, tables, and figures. Selected works will be invited by the Journal of Sociocybernetics editors to submit their work for a special issue.
Important Dates:
Abstract Submission opens: 10th February, 2024
Abstract Submission ends: 15th April, 2024
Notification of Acceptance ends*: 30th April, 2024
Registration opens: 25th February, 2024
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 0th June, 2024
Conference Dates: 24th – 29th June, 2024
The notification of acceptance will be sent at maximum two weeks after submited.
Participation fees
- RC51 non members: 100 EUR
- Student fee RC51 non members: 50 EUR
- RC51 regular members in good standing (ISA and RC51): No fee.
Interested in becoming an ISA RC51 member?, Find information here
For academic registration a student credentials are needed to obtain the discount
Information for the registration process will be announced in https://sociocybernetics.org/rc51conference2024
Venue, accomodation and lodging
Venue: Krakow University of Economic 31-510 Krakow, ul. Rakowicka 27, Poland https://uek.krakow.pl/en/. Local organizational support is provided by the Department of Management Process, College of Management and Quality Sciences, Krakow University of Economics
The participants are responsible for arranging accommodation on their own. Krakow is an attractive tourist centre so short visits will be arranged by the local organizers during the Conference. Get information in https://visitkrakow.com/
Local Organizing Committee
Czesław MESJASZ, Krakow University of Economics (Poland) (Chair)
Paweł CABAŁA, Krakow University of Economics (Poland)
Tomasz MAŁKUS, Krakow University of Economics (Poland)
Małgorzata MARCHEWKA, University of Economics (Poland)
RC51 Organizing Committee
Saburo AKAHORI, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University (Japan, Chair)
Andrew MITCHELL, Kumamoto University (Japan)
Dalila CEREJO, Universidadde NOVA de Lisboa (Portugal)
Jorge CARDIEL, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM. México)
Raija KOSKINEN, Häme University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
International Scientific Committee
Patricia E. ALMAGUER KALIXTO, Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain) (Chair)
Juan Carlos BARRON PASTÓR, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (México)
Eva BUCHINGER, Austrian Institute of Technology (Austria)
Joaquín CASTILLO DE MESA Universidad de Málaga (Spain)
Consuelo CORRADI, LUMSA Universitá (Italy)
Luciano GALLÓN, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (Colombia)
Fabio GIGLIETTO, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo” (Italy)
Bernd HORNUNG, RC51-ISA RC51 Past President (Germany)
Margarita MAASS MORENO, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (México)
Chaime MARCUELLO-SERVÓS, Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain)
Bernard SCOTT, RC51 Past President (UK)
Toru TAKAHASHI, Chuo University (Japan)
Contact information
For queries related to submission and academic aspects, please contact Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of the ISA RC51 on Sociocybernetics mitchell.andrew.neil@gmail.com and akahori@lab.twcu.ac.jp ISA RC51 President.
For logistic aspects related to Contact and information: mesjaszc@uek.krakow.pl, Chair of the local organizing committee.
