Empathic Computing Journal is delighted to announce the successful completion of the 3rd InterAI Workshop: Interactive AI for Human-Centered Robotics, held in conjunction with ACM CHI 2026 on April 13, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. As the official partner and sponsor of this premier academic event, we are proud to have supported this groundbreaking gathering of researchers and practitioners in the fields of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), and Interactive Artificial Intelligence.

This success would not have been possible without the exceptional leadership and dedication of Dr. Yuchong Zhang, a postdoctoral researcher at KTH and member of the Empathic Computing editorial team, who served as one of the primary organizers of the workshop. Dr. Zhang’s commitment to advancing the field and his tireless efforts in promoting both the workshop and the journal have been instrumental in making this event a resounding success.

A Convergence of Ideas and Innovation

The workshop brought together leading scholars and practitioners to explore the intersection of human-centered design and interactive AI technologies. The event featured keynote presentations, paper presentations, panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions that fostered deep engagement with the field's most pressing challenges and opportunities.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the keynote speaker, Prof. Albrecht Schmidt, whose inspiring presentation on the two core design principles for interactive AI - Predictability and Curiosity - sparked meaningful reflection among participants on how to create more engaging and intuitive agentic interactions. His insights provided valuable theoretical grounding for designing AI systems that truly serve human needs.

Recognizing Academic Excellence

Empathic Computing Journal was honored to sponsor the Best Paper Awards for this year's workshop. We are delighted to congratulate the award recipients:

• Best Paper Awardees: Mina Huh, Hosea Siu, and Max Pascher

These exceptional papers exemplify the caliber of research advancing the field of human-centered interactive AI, and we are committed to recognizing and amplifying such outstanding contributions to our shared academic community.

Promoting Excellence in Research and Community

Throughout the workshop, Dr. Yuchong Zhang actively promoted the Empathic Computing's mission and values to participants. His efforts to bridge the gap between the workshop community and our journal reflect our shared commitment to advancing research at the intersection of human-centered design and interactive AI.

Empathic Computing Journal's collaboration with the InterAI Workshop demonstrates our dedication to:
• Recognize and celebrate outstanding research contributions
• Foster a culture of academic excellence in the field
• Support the growth of the InterAI community
• Encourage researchers to push the boundaries of human-centered interactive AI
• Build lasting connections between academic events and peer-reviewed publication venues

By supporting events like this workshop and working with passionate researchers, we strengthen our commitment to advancing the entire field.

Our Gratitude

Special recognition goes to Dr. Yuchong Zhang and the broader organizing committee - Dr. Yong Ma, Dr. Di Fu, Dr. Elmira Yadollahi, Dr. Iolanda Leite, and Dr. Danica Kragic - whose collaborative efforts ensured the workshop's intellectual rigor and engaging format. We are particularly grateful for Dr. Zhang’s dual role as both an organizer and a member of our editorial team, which exemplifies the kind of engaged scholarship we value at Empathic Computing.

We also wish to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of all paper presenters, participants, and contributors who made this workshop such a rich and engaging experience. Their collective efforts have advanced our field's understanding of human-centered interactive AI and its applications in robotics and human-computer interaction.

More information about the workshop is available at:
https://sites.google.com/view/interaiworkshopchi2026/home