Call for Position & Vision Contributions
Argue for where AI should go next.
Position and vision contributions make a conceptual argument instead of reporting experimental results, as a paper or an abstract. They are especially welcome at Cross-AI events, from academia, industry, startups, and independent researchers, on any of the Cross-AI Topics. Examples include:
- A stance on an open question, with the reasoning and evidence behind it.
- A critique of current assumptions, methods, or evaluation practices.
- A research agenda for an emerging or cross-disciplinary area.
- A roadmap of open problems and the milestones needed to address them.
Not sure which route fits your work? See Submission Types.
Position or Vision?
Both are conceptual arguments on open research questions or future research directions, and neither requires experiments. They differ in purpose:
| Position | Vision | |
|---|---|---|
| Core question | What should the field believe or do? | What could the field become? |
| Aim | Advocates a position on a current issue | Defines a future direction or research agenda |
| Evidence | Critical analysis, existing research, and counterarguments | Emerging trends, conceptual frameworks, and open challenges |
| Outcome | Persuades or stimulates debate | Inspires new research directions |
Submission Format
Position and vision contributions may be a paper or, with no paper, an abstract presented as a Lightning Talk.
| Paper | Abstract (Lightning Talk) | |
|---|---|---|
| Submission | 4–6 page paper, including the AI Usage Disclosure, references, and appendices | Abstract (up to 300 words), no paper |
| Format | IEEE template, in English, US Letter PDF (Paper Format) | Entered in the submission form (Abstract Submissions) |
| Review | Double-blind: remove all author information | Single-blind |
| Presentation materials | Detailed instructions upon acceptance | |
| Publication | Archival | Non-archival |
| Dates | Due November 16, 2026. See Paper Deadlines and Abstract Deadlines | |
See Publication Options for archival and non-archival publication.
Shorter position or vision work may also be submitted as a Poster (Poster Paper or Poster-Only).
Where to Submit
Position and vision contributions (papers and abstracts) are submitted to one of the following:
- Call for Research
- Call for Applications
- Call for Industry Contributions (abstracts only)
- Frontier Sessions (some run on their own schedules)
- Workshops (some run on their own schedules)
Join a panel. Cross-AI hosts panels on agentic AI, physical AI, and AI and art. You are welcome to apply as a panelist or moderator through the Call for Panelists or to propose your own panel through the Call for Panel Proposals.
Important Dates
Position and vision contributions (papers and abstracts) are due November 16, 2026 (AoE). See Paper Deadlines and Abstract Deadlines for notification and final submission dates.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions are made through the AirBalloon conference management system. All papers are reviewed double-blind.
Before submitting, read the Author Guidelines, Submission Types, the Submission Guidelines, the Publication and Media Hosting guidelines, and all policies, then complete the Checklist for Initial Submission. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines and policies are desk-rejected under the Desk Rejection Policy.