The Fifth International Workshop on Human Brain and Artificial Intelligence (HBAI 2026)
Welcome to HBAI 2026, the fifth International Workshop on Human Brain and Artificial Intelligence. This workshop is planned to be held in Bremen, Germany, on August 17, 2026, as a fully in-person event associated with IJCAI 2026. The quest for brain research is to uncover the nature of brain cognition, consciousness, and intelligence. Simultaneously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is committed to the realization of machine-borne intelligence. We are currently witnessing a historic convergence of these fields into the rapidly emerging discipline of NeuroAI.
To bring together active researchers and practitioners at the frontiers of Artificial Intelligence and Brain Research, we propose the 5th International Workshop on Human Brain and Artificial Intelligence (HBAI 2026). This workshop continues the successful legacy of HBAI (previously held at IJCAI 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024).
HBAI 2026 will focus on mechanistically understanding the human brain through AI (Brain Computing) and developing the next generation of AI algorithms inspired by neural mechanisms (Brain-Inspired Computing). The discussion will cover neural computation, artificial general intelligence (AGI), brain-machine interfaces, and cognitive data science.
Workshop History & Audience
HBAI is an established workshop series successfully held at IJCAI. Past workshops have published high-quality proceedings in Springer's Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) series: HBAI 2024 (CCIS Vol. 2225), HBAI 2022 (CCIS Vol. 1757), HBAI 2021 (CCIS Vol. 1369, for IJCAI-PRICAI 2020/2021), and the inaugural HBAI 2019 (CCIS Vol. 1072) which attracted ~60 attendees.
Based on this history, we estimate an audience of 50-80 participants for the in-person event in Bremen. Given the high profile of our invited speakers and the surging interest in NeuroAI, we expect strong participation.
Aims and Scope
HBAI 2026 aims to unveil the latest discoveries at the nexus of human brain research and AI, highlighting the synergetic potential that bridges these two domains. The workshop is designed to promote active exchange between the AI and Neuroscience communities, featuring distinguished keynote speakers and presentations of peer-reviewed research.
Workshop Topics
We encourage papers with important new insights at the intersection of AI and computational brain science. Topics include, but are not limited to:
NeuroAI & Biologically Plausible Intelligence:
- Neuromorphic computing and Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs)
- Learning and plasticity rules
- Neural mechanism of behavior
- Generalization
- Deep learning models of the brain
AI for Brain Science & Decoding:
- Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI) / Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI)
- Neural decoding and encoding models
- Graph theory and knowledge graphs for brain connectivity
- Machine learning for neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG)
- Analysis of brain health, aging, and disorders
