UIST 2026 Workshop

The Personalized Computer for the 21st Century

What should computers do when they know us deeply and can act on what they know?

AI systems can increasingly learn about people, adapt tools and interfaces to individual needs, and act on their behalf. This workshop brings researchers and practitioners together to decide what personalized computing should become and what it must preserve.

Date: Monday, November 2, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM–12:15 PM
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Attendance: In person only

Apply ↗

Applications close [deadline]. No virtual attendance will be offered.

About

Personal computers have rarely been truly personal.

For decades, personalization has largely meant settings, rankings, and recommendations. Modern AI introduces a more consequential possibility: systems that learn about people across contexts, generate bespoke tools and interfaces, and take meaningful action for them.

This makes an old vision newly plausible. It also forces us to ask what these systems should know, how they should be built, and where helpful personalization becomes unacceptable inference or intervention.

Program

9:00–9:10
Opening introduction
9:10–9:40

Spotlight talks

Three concise visions for the future of personalized computing.
9:40–10:30

Debate

Does the “bitter lesson” apply to personalized computing—or do useful personal systems require intentionally designed representations of users and their lives?
10:30–11:00
Coffee break
11:00–12:00

Interactive session

Small groups will develop and stress-test concrete visions for personalized systems.
12:00–12:15

Share-out

Groups will present their strongest ideas, tensions, and open questions.

Participation

Join the conversation.

We welcome researchers and practitioners working on personalized and adaptive interfaces, user modeling, personal agents, proactive AI, generative interfaces, end-user programming, privacy, agency, and control.

You do not need to work explicitly on “personalization.” We especially welcome perspectives that challenge its assumptions, methods, or desirability.

This is a small, discussion-oriented workshop. Applications should briefly describe your relevant experience, why you want to participate, and one question or idea you would like the group to explore.

Application deadline: [deadline]
Decisions announced: [date]