ELLIS HCML Workshop 2026

This event is the annual workshop of the ELLIS Human-centric Machine Learning Program, hosted in Alicante, Spain on the 28th of May 2026, with a working dinner and panel on the 27th of May 2026, and with an option for hybrid attendance. The workshop is focused on trustworthy AI and is open to participants from ELLIS, ELIAS, ELLIOT, ELSA, and ELLE, especially those working on trustworthy, safe, robust, secure, and interpretable AI systems.

ELLIS Programs

In addition to ELLIS sites, a European network of top researchers working at locations throughout Europe is being established, and organized into ELLIS Programs. These Programs, directed by outstanding European researchers and including leading researchers as Program Fellows, focus on high-impact problem areas that have the potential to move the needle in modern AI.

The ELLIS Programs are inspired by the CIFAR Program model, and closely collaborate with the CIFAR LMB (Learning in Machines and Brains) Program. Each Program has a budget for 2-3 workshops/year to enable meetings of 10-15 Fellows plus guests for intensive scientific exchange. Workshops can be co-located with academic meetings, usually held in Europe, or organised as stand-alone events, usually at, and with the support of, ELLIS unit sites.

ELLIS / ELIAS / ELLIOT / ELSA / ELLE HCML Workshop 2026

This workshop focuses on trustworthy AI, including robustness, safety and security, fairness, transparency, accountability, and interpretability of decisions of large-scale AI systems, including LLMs, VLMs, and multimodal systems.

The workshop is co-organized by Adrian Weller, Plamen Angelov, and Nuria Oliver, and is open to participants from ELLIS, ELIAS, ELLIOT, ELSA, and ELLE.

The goals of the workshop are to:

  • Share an update on ELLIS
  • Understand what each fellow is working on
  • Explore ways to collaborate

Schedule

This event will take place on the 27th and 28th of May, 2026, in Alicante, Spain. Times are in CEST (UTC+2). The program below is tentative and speakers are to be confirmed.

Time Description
May 27, 19:00 – 21:00 Working dinner + panel
Panel details and speakers to be confirmed.
May 28, 9:00 – 9:10 Welcome and coffee
9:10 – 9:30 Introduction (Adrian Weller, Plamen Angelov, Nuria Oliver)
Aims of the workshop:
  • Share an update on ELLIS
  • Understand what each fellow is working on
  • Explore ways to collaborate
9:30 – 10:30 Invited speaker
40’ talk plus discussion
Speaker to be confirmed.
10:30 – 11:15 First session — AI Safety and Security
4 x15’ talk + 5’
Speakers to be confirmed.
11:15 – 11:45 Coffee break
11:45 – 13:15 Second session — Fairness / Transparency / Accountability
4 x15’ talk + 5’
Speakers to be confirmed.
13:15 – 14:30 Lunch (catering)
14:30 – 16:00 Third session — Humans and AI
4 x 15’ talk + 5’
Speakers to be confirmed.
16:00 – 17:00 Second invited speaker
40’ talk plus discussion
Speaker to be confirmed.
17:00 – 17:15 Discussion and closing

Online

Workshop participants can attend virtually via a Teams link to be confirmed.

Venue

Workshop activities will be held in the new Digital District Building 5, Muelle Pte., 03003 Alicante, Spain. This is the fifth headquarters of the Digital District in the city of Alicante, with capacity to accommodate 550 employees of companies in the technology sector.