Call for Papers

Silicon Valley Peace Conference

“AI’s Role in Community Development and Peacebuilding in Developing Nations”

September 18 and 19, 2026
Palo Alto, California

CONCEPT NOTE

The Silicon Valley Peace Conference, organized under the theme “AI’s Role in Community Development and Peacebuilding in Developing Nations,” will take place on September 18–19, 2026, in Palo Alto, California. Bringing together scholars, technologists, policymakers, peacebuilders, and practitioners, the conference aims to explore AI’s potential contributions to development and peace in diverse contexts. Hosted by a group of academic and civic institutions, the event will serve as a platform for sharing research findings. practical evidence and insights, exchanging ideas, and forming new collaborations on the implications of AI for humanity’s benefit and empowerment.

AI is reshaping nearly every sector fundamental to community life. Advanced AI tools are expanding the possibilities of classroom learning, broadening access to healthcare, strengthening agricultural systems, and supporting climate adaptation. They are also increasing efficiency across knowledge and manufacturing industries, enabling communities to address longstanding challenges with greater precision and impact. AI further creates new avenues for preserving cultural heritage, fostering entrepreneurship, overcoming barriers to essential services, and building economic resilience. At the same time, these advancements introduce complex challenges, including risks related to misinformation, unequal access, AI safety concerns, and the rapid pace of technological change. Taken together, these shifts demonstrate both the promise and the complexity of integrating AI into pathways for community advancement and equitable progress.

The conference organizers welcome participants to take part in this academic gathering, which will take place in Silicon Valley, California, at the heart of global AI innovation. The conference also offers an optional two-day tour of the San Francisco Bay Area for attendees who wish to explore the region’s rich technological and cultural landscape. Through research presentations, shared best practices, and interactive sessions, participants will be able to engage with emerging findings, learn from research insights, exchange practical perspectives, and build valuable networks that deepen understanding of AI’s societal impact across diverse contexts. Together, these engagements aim to strengthen collective efforts toward peaceful, equitable, and inclusive AI-enabled futures.

SUBTHEMES

1. AI for Peacebuilding and Global Security
   • Advancing Peacebuilding Efforts With AI-Based Approaches
   • Promoting Ethical, Transparent, and Responsible AI Development and Use
   • Strengthening Global Collaboration to Develop Guiding Principles for Safe AI
   • Addressing Emerging Digital and Societal Security Challenges in the Age of AI
   • Role of AI Technology Companies in Advancing Peace and Development
   • Challenges Posed by AI-Driven Misinformation, Disinformation, and Deepfakes
2. AI, Social Justice, and Inclusive Societies
   • Promoting Social Justice and Reducing Inequality Through AI
   • Preserving Indigenous Cultures, Languages, and Community Heritage
   • Strengthening Human Rights and Human Dignity Through AI-Enabled Solutions
   • Assistive AI Technologies for Persons With Disabilities and Caregivers
   • Expanding Digital Inclusion and Equitable Access to Technology
   • AI and Online Safety for Children and Youth
   • Cultural Adaptation and Identity in an AI-Enabled World
   • Empowering Creative and Artistic Expression With AI Technologies
3. AI and Community Empowerment
   • AI-Driven Solutions in Community Development and Peacebuilding
   • Advancing Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Through AI
   • Empowering Marginalized Communities With AI-Enabled Tools
   • Utilizing AI to Alleviate Poverty and Strengthen Livelihood Resilience
   • Creating New Forms of Employment Through AI-Driven Technologies
   • Expanding Economic Opportunities Through Emerging AI Industries and Sectors
   • Capacity Building and Strengthening Non-Profit and Civil-Society Organizations With AI
   • Digital Entrepreneurship and Platform Economies Enabled by AI
4. AI for Sustainable Development and Environment
   • Applications of AI for Inclusive Development in Developing Nations
   • Supporting and Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals With AI Tools
   • Climate Action, Conservation, and Environmental Monitoring Enhanced by AI
   • Improving Humanitarian Assistance Delivery With AI Technologies
   • Crisis Management and Disaster Risk Reduction With AI Technologies
   • Environmental Impact of AI Through Energy and Water Consumption
5. AI in Education, Public Health, and Research
   • Strengthening Education Systems Through AI-Driven Innovations
   • Enhancing Access and Quality in Public Health and Healthcare Through AI
   • Expanding AI Literacy Through Educational and Community Programs
   • Accelerating Scientific Research and Innovation With AI
6. AI, Ethics, Theology, and Spirituality
   • Theological and Ethical Reflections on Artificial Intelligence
   • Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue on Ethical AI and Shared Values
   • AI, Spiritual Well-Being and Human Development

TYPES OF CONTRIBUTIONS

The conference accepts both research-based papers and practice-based papers, and all submissions must present original, unpublished work. Research-based papers should contribute new theoretical, empirical, analytical, or interdisciplinary insights. Practice-based papers should document real-world implementation, programs, tools, or community initiatives, highlighting practical experiences, challenges, lessons learned, and their relevance for peacebuilding, development, or social impact.

Authors must also disclose any use of large language models (LLMs) or AI-assisted tools in preparing the abstract or full paper, ensuring that all AI-generated content is verified for accuracy and that the authors retain full responsibility for the integrity and originality of the work.

The conference welcomes submissions across the categories below, each of which contributes to a deeper understanding of AI’s role in peacebuilding, inclusion, community development, and responsible deployment.

Case Studies

Papers analyzing specific real-world AI initiatives, highlighting how they were implemented, challenges encountered, lessons learned, outcomes achieved, and including insights on scalability and transferability to other contexts.

Empirical Research

Papers that collect and analyze original empirical data from field interactions, structured observations, surveys, interviews, or controlled and experimental studies to examine how AI influences communities, social dynamics, education, empowerment, public health, development outcomes, and peacebuilding contexts.

Policy Analysis

Papers examining national, regional, and global AI policies, with a focus on AI safety regulations, governmental AI strategies, and public AI programs, including comparative policy analysis and evaluation frameworks, and research on their implementation, adoption, societal impacts, and effectiveness in promoting equitable AI deployment.

Technical Research

Papers investigating and documenting the best practices in the design, development, and deployment of AI-enabled technologies, tools, and software applications that support peacebuilding and community-focused innovation.

Theoretical and Conceptual Papers

Papers presenting philosophical, conceptual, and theoretical research outcomes on AI, including analysis of its societal, ethical, theological, cultural, and peace-related implications.

Interdisciplinary Studies

Papers integrating methods and perspectives from multiple social and natural scientific fields to address complex AI-related challenges, including societal impacts, ethical considerations, existential risks, peacebuilding, multi-sector collaboration, and evaluation-based approaches.

PUBLICATION AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Abstracts

Authors are invited to submit an abstract of up to 500 words. Research-based abstracts should clearly state the research objectives, central questions, theoretical or conceptual framing, methodological approach, data sources, and the anticipated contribution of the study. Practice-based abstracts should describe the real-world initiative or project, its purpose, implementation context, the practical focus of the work, and the insights or lessons the paper intends to discuss. Editorial Board members will evaluate all submissions and may provide suggestions for improvement. Each abstract—whether accepted, returned for revision with feedback, or not accepted—will receive a decision within two weeks.

Full Papers

Authors whose abstracts are accepted may proceed to prepare and submit a full paper of 5,000–12,000 words. Research-based papers should be well-structured, analytically rigorous, grounded in scholarly literature, and include components such as an introduction, theoretical or conceptual framework, literature review, methodology, analysis or findings, discussion, and conclusion.

Practice-based papers should clearly describe the real-world tools, programs, and initiatives involved in the work, including their objectives, context, implementation approach, practical experiences, applied insights, and implications for community development or peacebuilding. They do not require formal research methods but must present original, well-organized, and substantively meaningful contributions.

The review is conducted by Editorial Board members, typically completed within three weeks, and may require revisions.

Formatting Requirements

Authors are encouraged to use active voice, concise sentence structures, and clear, accessible language. Where appropriate, statements should be framed constructively by minimizing the use of negative formulations. All submissions must follow APA 7th Edition citation and reference standards. In-text citations are preferred over footnotes, as they are more suitable and reader-friendly for web-based publications. Both the abstract and full paper manuscript must be submitted in Google Docs with editing access enabled so reviewers can provide comments and detailed feedback.

Publication

Accepted papers will be published in the Silicon Valley Peace Conference Proceedings and made available through an open-access format, ensuring broad visibility and unrestricted readership. Authors who plan to publish their work in external journals may indicate this at the time of submission; however, the manuscript must still undergo Editorial Board review to qualify for conference presentation.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION AND LOGISTICS

Format

The conference will be held in a hybrid format to ensure broad and inclusive participation. Attendees may join in person or virtually, depending on their preference and circumstances. Remote presenters will have the opportunity to deliver their presentation through the conference’s online platform.

Participation and Support

There are no participation, presentation, or publication fees, and guests are responsible for their own travel and accommodation. Participants are encouraged to join a guided two-day tour of the San Francisco Bay Area. The organizers will provide complimentary airport pickup for international participants. Lunch and dinner will be provided on the conference dates, September 18 and 19. Complimentary dinners will be offered during the San Francisco Bay Area tours on September 17 and 20. Official invitations will be issued only to the lead author of each accepted full paper.

Important Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: February 28, 2026
• Notification of abstract status: Within two weeks
• Full paper submission deadline: May 31, 2026
• Notification of full paper status: Within three weeks
• Conference dates: September 18 and 19, 2026
• San Francisco Bay Area tours: September 17 and 20, 2026

Venue

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Palo Alto, California

CONFERENCE WEBSITE

www.svpconference.org
The conference website provides access to the submission portal, author guidelines, program flow, livestream sessions, and the published proceedings. Authors are encouraged to check the website regularly for the latest updates.