Digital Humanism Conference 2026

Orientation in turbulent times

This moment is shaped by competing and intensifying dynamics: on the one hand, escalating narratives of existential technological risk, and on the other, waves of economic speculation and hype around AI; alongside deepening geopolitical fragmentation, trade conflicts, and even open war. In this context, digital technologies are at the centre of attention, they have become central infrastructures through which power, knowledge, security, and economic value are organised. This convergence creates both urgency and ambiguity, demanding new forms of orientation that move beyond critique toward grounded practices of shaping technology in line with democratic and societal values.

This year’s Digital Humanism Conference does not respond with abstraction or diagnosis alone. It turns toward action. It asks not only what is at stake, but what is already being done, by whom, and under which conditions, what we can do, what we have to demand from our institutions. It foregrounds practices that seek to reclaim technological development as a matter of public concern and collective responsibility.

In this sense, Digital Humanism is approached as a practice. It unfolds through design, through empowerment, through involvement and education, and through the everyday decisions that configure technological systems and their social effects. The conference therefore highlights the often invisible work required to align digital technologies with democratic values, human rights, inclusion, diversity, and environmental responsibility.

Positioned within current global power shifts, the conference engages critically with existing governance frameworks while maintaining a forward-looking perspective. It explores how agency can be regained and redistributed, how dependencies can be reduced, and how public institutions can take on a more active role in shaping digital futures.