Department of Communication Hosts Third Annual CommHorizons Conference

The Department of Communciation hosted the third annual CommHorizons conference during the month of May, hosting researchers from around the world for three days of shared scholarship. This year’s conference theme, “Communication in the Age of AI and Algorithms” proved particularly engaging, as over 100 posters and talks were presented. Scholars focused on two major themes: the use of artificial intelligence tools in the conduct of communication research, and the uses and effects of communication with artificial intelligence systems. Panel sessions were nearly all chaired by graduate students from the Department of Communication. 

Dr. Jeff Hancock (Stanford University) delivered the annual Mohrmann Lecture as part of the conference. Dr. Hancock, Harry and Norman Chandler Professor of Communication at Stanford, shared insights into efforts by governments around the world to protect vulnerable users from potential harms of social media. He particularly emphasized the potential role of artificial intelligence tools in these efforts. 

The conference keynote speaker was Dr. Angel Hsing-Chi Hwang (USC), who spoke on the societal impact of receiving social support from artificial intelligence systems. Dr. Hwang advocated for informed design for future social AI research, particularly the inclusions of safeguards in experiments that expose users to novel AI companions. 

 The CommHorizons 2026 conference was organized by Dr. Richard Huskey (Associate Professor), Dr. Jorge Peña (Professor), and Dr. Soojong Kim (Assistant Professor) of the Department of Communication, ably assisted by the department’s outstanding professional staff.