What Is AI Horizons Webinar Series?
The AI Horizons Webinar Series, hosted by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, is a focused online event that examines the human dimensions of artificial intelligence. Scheduled for June 18, 2026, this installment of the series brings together researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders to explore how AI interacts with people in real-world contexts. Organized by Wharton’s Human-AI Research initiative, the webinar series is designed to bridge the gap between technical AI development and the behavioral, organizational, and societal factors that shape its adoption and impact.
Unlike many AI events that concentrate on algorithms, model architectures, or deployment pipelines, AI Horizons 2026 centers on the “human side” of the technology. This includes critical questions about how AI affects human creativity, whether automation leads to skill erosion, how users adopt AI agents, and what effective human-AI collaboration looks like. The series matters because these human factors often determine whether AI systems succeed or fail in practice—regardless of their technical sophistication. For professionals navigating the AI landscape, understanding these dynamics is as essential as understanding the underlying code.
Why It Matters for AI Professionals
For AI professionals—whether they are developers, product managers, or executives—the AI Horizons Webinar Series offers a rare opportunity to step back from technical details and consider the broader implications of their work. The 2026 session directly addresses industry pain points: the gap between AI capability and user trust, the risk of deskilling in automated workflows, and the challenges of designing AI systems that augment rather than replace human judgment. Attendees gain insights from Wharton’s academic research, which often precedes mainstream industry awareness, giving them a strategic edge in anticipating how human-AI interaction will evolve.
Moreover, the webinar format allows for deep dives into specific topics without the noise of a large conference. Professionals can expect evidence-based discussions that translate academic findings into actionable guidance. Whether you are building AI-powered tools, managing teams that use AI, or shaping organizational AI strategy, the perspectives shared at AI Horizons 2026 will help you design systems that people actually want to use—and use well.
What to Expect
The AI Horizons Webinar Series on June 18, 2026, will feature expert conversations structured around four core themes:
- AI Creativity: Exploring how generative AI tools influence creative processes, from ideation to execution, and whether they enhance or constrain original thinking.
- Deskilling: Examining the risk that reliance on AI systems may erode foundational skills in fields like writing, analysis, and decision-making, and how to mitigate this.
- Agent Adoption: Understanding the factors that drive or hinder the uptake of AI agents in professional and personal contexts, including trust, transparency, and usability.
- Human-AI Collaboration: Investigating best practices for designing workflows where humans and AI systems work together effectively, with a focus on complementarity rather than substitution.
Each theme will be addressed through moderated discussions with Wharton faculty and invited experts. The specific speaker lineup for the 2026 event is to be announced, but past sessions have featured leading researchers in behavioral economics, organizational behavior, and computer science. The webinar will be delivered live online, with opportunities for audience Q&A.
Who Should Attend
This webinar series is tailored for a broad professional audience that intersects with AI. Primary attendees include:
- AI researchers and developers who want to understand the human factors that influence system adoption and effectiveness.
- Product managers and designers building AI-enabled tools, seeking insights on user experience and trust.
- Business executives and strategists responsible for AI adoption roadmaps and workforce planning.
- Policy makers and ethicists interested in the societal implications of AI deployment.
- Academics and students studying human-computer interaction, organizational behavior, or AI ethics.
No deep technical background is required, but a professional interest in AI’s real-world impact will make the content most relevant.
How to Register
Registration for the AI Horizons Webinar Series on June 18, 2026, is available through the official Wharton AI website. Pricing details are to be announced; past sessions have been offered free of charge or at a nominal fee. To secure your spot and receive updates on the agenda and speakers, visit the event page at ai.wharton.upenn.edu/ai-horizons.
