Shaping AI for Inclusion: Barcelona Summer School 2026

The techno-deterministic paradigm of AI has exacerbated social challenges. Academia is mobilising to assess the impact of AI in society and understand how to contribute to shaping this paradigm. This summer school aims to explore the social, ethical, and political challenges posed by contemporary artificial intelligence systems, with particular attention to any form of discrimination, including all intersectional manifestations of ageism, racism, sexism, ableism, and others. Thus, the focus is on the critical examination of how power relations enter algorithmic systems, including the roles of data practices and institutional arrangements, and on how we can reimagine accountability, anti-discriminatory action, and inclusion in automated socio-technical environments.

The summer school will encourage methodological innovation to broaden research perspectives, foster interdisciplinary insights that stimulate critical thinking and practice, and strengthen the originality of participants’ research. In addition to intellectual engagement, the programme emphasizes peer-to-peer interaction and professional networking.

The summer school is organised within the framework of AnyAgeAI research project. It examines the different forms of ageism manifesting in Artificial Intelligence and aims to create opportunities for designing more age-inclusive AI systems. The project is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation in Germany and carried out in four research institutes: WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Leiden University in the Netherlands, University of Brighton in UK and the Open University Catatonia in Barcelona.

Academic Program

This intensive three-day programme will bring together outstanding early-career students from across disciplines, researchers, activists and practitioners actively contributing to shaping AI for inclusion. Participants will engage in a programme of lectures, workshops, presentations and collaborative practice designed to encourage critical reflection, debate and interdisciplinary exchange.

Critical AI themes addressed in the workshop include: algorithmic inequalities, machine learning, generative AI for social good, algorithmic work, mobility data justice and age-friendly smart cities, AI activism and advocacy, AI for good in the public sphere, among others. Dedicated parallel sessions will focus on discussing participants’ papers. Each student will present and share their research findings within a smaller group, followed by discussion with peers and the senior research team.

The final day features the ‘Shaping AI Workshop: Civic Action for the Common Good,’ which brings together civil society actors and community stakeholders to discuss how AI can be shaped towards more inclusive, equitable, and socially beneficial outcome.

Who should apply

The Summer School is open to doctoral and early-career researchers whose work engages with critical reflections on AI. Interdisciplinary projects, art-based research, practice and research that combines theoretical and empirical approaches are particularly welcome.

Eligible to apply are students at an advanced stage of their PhD Program and early-career researchers. Up to 10 fully subsidised places (reimbursement covering travel, accommodation, breakfast and lunch) are available and will be awarded on a competitive basis.

The main criteria for acceptance into the Barcelona Summer School are academic excellence and alignment with the summer school’s topic.

Application process and key dates

• 10 March 2026 Deadline to submit your abstract here. Including your personal statement and personal information.
• 30 March 2026 You will be notified whether your topic is a fit with the summer school. If selected, you will be invited to submit a full paper.
• 15 April 2026 Submit your 5,000–7,000‑word paper. This paper will be discussed during the summer school but will not be published. A submission link will be made available on 30 March.
• 1 May Notification of selected candidates
• 15 July. Welcome to Barcelona!

Bursaries

The Barcelona Summer School is generously supported by the Ageism in AI: new forms of age discrimination and exclusion in the era of algorithms and artificial intelligence research project funded by Volkswagen Foundation. The project makes available 10 bursaries which cover: accommodation (up to 3 hotel nights at max rate of 150 Euros per night) and a fixed rate contribution to travel flights or trains, and visa costs (300 euros that will be reimbursed). Breakfast and lunch is also covered by the bursaries Please note that participants will need to book and pay their travel and accommodation themselves, and will be reimbursed after the event.

For questions or comments about the application process contact shapingai2026+candidates@gmail.com. For other questions you can reach us at shapingai2026@gmail.com or visit anyage.ai.

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