Language and AI Conference

The Berkeley Language Center supports cross-disciplinary conversations about language and artificial intelligence through a yearly conference. 

There has never been a better time for the human centered disciplines and especially academics who study language to contribute to the understanding and development of generative AI systems.
William Allison, Chief Technology Officer, UC Berkeley

Language & AI Conference 2025

Language, Literature & Culture Study in an Age of AI

Today, AI technologies emulate human language and communication. The potential ramifications of these technologies for language education seem particularly profound. In this half-day conference, we open a discussion with interlocutors across the Berkeley campus and beyond to explore what AI means for language, literature & culture study and teaching today.

Guiding Questions

  • What does it mean to study language, literature & culture in an age of AI? 

  • Why are students studying language/literature/culture today? 

  • How are students studying language/literature/culture today? 

  • What do students think they should be learning in the language/literature/culture classroom today? 

  • What does it mean to teach language/literature/culture in an age of AI? 

  • What role should digital literacies play in language education?

Additional details and registration here.

Language and AI Conference 2024

Generating Interdisciplinary Connections and Possibilities

An interdisciplinary conference focusing on the theory, industry, and research happening between language and AI. 

Language-based artificial intelligence technologies (i.e., large language model tools, like ChatGPT, Google Translate, DeepL, etc.) are at the forefront of many discussions currently taking place in both the academic world and beyond. That said, the key components at the heart of these technologies–language and machine learning–often operate in silos, without opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, sharing, or critique. 

This conference, which took place on February 28, 2024 in collaboration with the Townsend Center for the Humanitites and the Division of Arts & Humanities, we gathered together researchers, instructors, and practitioners from the UC Berkeley community who work in different parts of the language/culture and machine learning landscape. The goal of the conference was to showcase the work being done in machine learning and language/culture study in the UC Berkeley community and to explore questions of language, language use, and technology from three perspectives: research, industry, theory. 

Learn more about the conference here. 

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