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AI+Science: Accelerating Discovery
conferenceMay 05, 20268:30 AM - 6:45 PM
May
05
2026
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Practicing specific social skills with AI chatbots helps users build confidence and competence.
In a world where chatbots can stand in for friends, counselors, and even lovers, the mental health risks are a growing concern.
Practicing specific social skills with AI chatbots helps users build confidence and competence.
"If you’re following AI news, you’re probably getting whiplash. AI is a gold rush. AI is a bubble. AI is taking your job. AI can’t even read a clock. The 2026 AI Index from Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, AI’s annual report card, comes out today and cuts through some of that noise."
This year's Index reveals a widening gap between what AI can do and how prepared we are to manage it. While AI continues its rapid integration into the global economy – with technical capabilities improving, investment accelerating, and adoption spreading – the frameworks needed to govern, evaluate, and understand this technology are falling behind. In a field where data transparency is declining, independent, rigorous measurement has never been more critical. This report provides the most comprehensive analysis of AI's trajectory available.
Read the Report
Our vision for the future is led by our commitment to studying, guiding, and developing human-centered AI technologies and applications. We believe AI should be collaborative, augmentative, and enhancing human productivity and quality of life.
We empower leaders in education, policy, and civil society with AI fundamentals to amplify their impact for humanity.
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Focusing on AI technologies across industries and their business implications, Stanford faculty offer courses for leaders and key decision-makers.
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Exploring the unique opportunities and challenges that AI presents in civil society, philanthropy, and nonprofits.
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Policymakers and civil servants are at the front lines of decision-making on emerging technologies such as AI. Recognizing the valuable role they play in the AI governance ecosystem, Stanford HAI has developed specialized training programs to meet their needs.
See how HAI empowers policymakers
Christine Baker
Educating the next generation of AI leaders is core to what HAI is all about. Essential to this mission are leaders and decision makers within the K-12 ecosystem, teachers, and students.
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Stanford’s seven leading schools on the same campus enable HAI to offer a multidisciplinary approach to education.
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Through evidence-based research and global convenings, our policy work equips decision-makers with key insights into AI governance’s challenges and opportunities.
We have a historical opportunity and responsibility to establish a human-centered frameworkfor AI research, education, practice and policy.
At HAI, we view the field of AI as spanning the entire university. Unless we tap into the full gamut of disciplinary expertise we cannot hope to realize the potential of the technology while avoiding its pitfalls.
In a world where chatbots can stand in for friends, counselors, and even lovers, the mental health risks are a growing concern.
Sha Sajadieh, AI Index Lead, comments on HAI's 2026 AI Index findings.
"If you’re following AI news, you’re probably getting whiplash. AI is a gold rush. AI is a bubble. AI is taking your job. AI can’t even read a clock. The 2026 AI Index from Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, AI’s annual report card, comes out today and cuts through some of that noise."
The annual report reveals a field hitting breakthrough capabilities while raising urgent questions about environmental costs, transparency, and who benefits from the technology.
HAI was established to support innovative AI research that bridges disciplines and fields. The Institute aims to appoint and support promising researchers through its fellowship programs who are working at intersections often overlooked by traditional academic departments, in addition to outstanding researchers pursuing core disciplinary topics.
The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI strives to foster a culture of interdisciplinary AI research in which technological advancements are inextricably linked to research about their potential societal impacts. HAI builds on the strength of Stanford research by offering many grant programs.
Affinity Groups provide a space for students to share ideas, develop intellectually and strengthen the community of future leaders dedicated to building AI that benefits all of humanity.
Practicing specific social skills with AI chatbots helps users build confidence and competence.
Policymakers and civil servants are at the front lines of decision-making on emerging technologies such as AI. Recognizing the valuable role they play in the AI governance ecosystem, Stanford HAI has developed specialized training programs to meet their needs.
