[CFP] AAAI Workshop on Theory of Mind (ToM4AI)

[Reuth Mirsky]

Advancing Artificial Intelligence through Theory of Mind (ToM4AI):

Bridging Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence

https://tom4ai.github.io/events/AAAI2026/

Important Dates:
October 22, 2025 - Submissions Due
November 5, 2025 - Authors Notifications
November 16, 2025 - Early Registration Deadline
January 26, 2026 - Workshop Day

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the capacity to understand other agents by ascribing mental states to them, including beliefs, desires, and intentions. Following the strong community participation in 2025, and now in its second year, this workshop will explore the integration of ToM in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and theory-driven cognitive science.  Advancing this interdisciplinary topic will promote more adaptive, efficient, and intuitive AI systems, built on human cognitive principles. By bridging cognitive neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, robotics, and AI research, we seek to foster discussions, present cutting-edge research, and identify challenges in developing AI systems that can understand, emulate, and predict the mental states of others.

The workshop is a 1-day event (January 26, 2026), featuring three keynote talks (speakers listed below), a paper presentation session, and a collaborative ToM “Hackathon”.

Call for papers:
We invite researchers interested in directly addressing Theory of Mind in Artificial and Biological Intelligence. We are also expecting submissions to ToM4AI and related topics relevant to designing, developing, demonstrating, or evaluating ToM-based AI agents. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Developmental ToM: Insights for AI
• Human Social Behaviour & Cognition
• The Role of ToM in Human-AI Interaction
• Computational ToM
• ToM in Large Language Models: Emulation, Emergence, or Anthropomorphic Illusion?
• Plan and goal recognition
• ToM in human-robot interactions
• Epistemic reasoning and planning
• BDI and adaptive cognitive architectures
• Multi-agent communication and meta-cognition
• Knowledge representation and meta-reasoning
• ToM evaluation and benchmarks
• Foundational models of ToM
• Philosophical aspects of Artificial Mind-reading

Submission Format:

Papers should be submitted via OpenReview
We will accept submissions in the form of extended abstracts (up to 2 pages, references excluded) on the broader ToM4AI spectrum. Papers must be in high-resolution PDF format, formatted for US Letter (8.5" x 11") paper, using Type 1 or TrueType fonts. Reviews are double-blind, and submissions must conform to the AAAI-26 submission instructions.

Planned speakers:
Prof. Geoff Bird (Oxford University)
Prof. Sarit Kraus (Bar-Ilan University)
Prof. Martin Sap (Carnegie Mellon University)

Organizing Committee (alphabetized):
Nitay Alon, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Primary POC: nitay...@mail.huji.ac.il)
Joseph Barnby, King's College London and Centre for AI and Machine Learning
Reuth Mirsky, Tufts University
Stefan Sarkadi, King's College London