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Panels

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly of AI in Academic Research and Publishing

Abstract:

AI is rapidly becoming part of many aspects of our personal and professional lives, and scientific research is no exception. AI-based tools are increasingly being used throughout the research process—from exploring ideas and reviewing literature to developing prototypes, designing studies, analyzing data, and preparing publications.

These tools offer significant opportunities to support researchers and potentially make some aspects of scientific work more efficient or effective. At the same time, their use raises important questions about research practices, transparency, responsibility, and scientific integrity. Researchers have a responsibility to conduct and communicate their work according to high ethical and professional standards, and the growing capabilities of AI introduce new considerations for how those standards should be applied.

At the same time, researchers face increasing demands on their time and productivity. AI tools can provide useful assistance in meeting these demands, but their expanding capabilities also raise questions about where assistance ends and the intellectual contribution of the researcher begins.

In this panel, we will discuss emerging practices—both promising and potentially problematic—associated with the use of AI throughout the research process. These may include using AI to brainstorm research questions, conduct literature reviews, prepare funding proposals, implement prototypes, design experiments, simulate participants or experimental data, analyze results, and assist in writing research papers.

Discussion topics include:

The panel will invite perspectives from both panelists and the audience, with the goal of exploring where there may already be areas of agreement, where important differences remain, and what principles or norms may be useful for our community as AI becomes increasingly integrated into research practice.

Rethinking Academic Conferences: Meaningful Connections at a Distance

Abstract:

International cross-pollination has always been a core part of effectively addressing world problems. Efficiently advancing knowledge requires building on the work of other researchers in related fields. In the XR community, presentation and discussion of work at academic conferences is seen as the most attractive means of accomplishing this. While publishing in journals has traditionally been viewed as more prestigious than presenting at conferences (especially in other, non-technical fields), the rigour and relatively short-turnaround times for conference publications allows us to remain nimble in the face of rapid changes and advancements in the XR field.

In addition, in-person conferences allow attendees to present and get feedback on their latest work, create networking opportunities, visit interesting places to share or expand our cultural understanding, and take time away from day-to-day demands to immerse ourselves in our research community. In addition to stimulating new ideas, our conference experiences are just fun!

There are many emerging challenges that make this a good time to re-think how we fulfill these important knowledge-generation-and-dissemination needs in a more practical and sustainable way. The increase in travel restrictions and costs, a growing acknowledgement of the environmental impact of us all traveling to a single face-to-face Room each year, and the rise in the number of conferences that serve similar communities call for us to pool our knowledge and resources.

This panel builds on two previous, well-received panel discussions held at IEEE VR 2025 & 2026 around alternative models for conferences, focusing mainly on our VR/AR/MR/XR community.

Discussion topics include: