Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force across domains, reshaping professional practices, academic debates, and user experiences. Audiovisual Translation (AVT), with its multimodal and interdisciplinary nature, stands at the forefront of this transformation. AI-driven tools such as automatic speech recognition, machine translation, text-to-speech systems, synthetic voices and AI dubbing, among others, are redefining how AVT is conceived, produced, and consumed, from dubbing and subtitling to audio description (AD), subtitling for people who are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing (SDH), voiceover, and live subtitling. The connection between AI and AVT is now central not only to advancing research, but also to forging sustainable ties with the AVT industry. Cloud-based platforms, automated workflows, and AI-enhanced translation environments are revolutionising professional practice while reshaping student training. Preparing the next generation of audiovisual translators requires embedding AI literacy, practical competence, and industry collaboration into curricula to ensure a smooth transition into the professional world. This conference invites scholars, students, practitioners, and industry stakeholders to explore, critically and concretely, the synergies and tensions between AI technologies and AVT. We aim to assess the state of the art, interrogate emerging challenges, and envision the future of AVT in a world increasingly shaped by automation and algorithmic mediation. Particular attention will be devoted to practical applications not only in the media and entertainment industries (film, television, streaming platforms, gaming), but also in the arts and cultural heritage sectors, such as museums, galleries, and live performance, where AI-enhanced AVT practices are opening unprecedented avenues for accessibility and cultural engagement. Focus will be also on the origins of the earliest chat systems within audiovisual and cinematic products. We welcome studies and research that foreground the historical significance of chats both as a digital tool and a writing/narrative device within audiovisual texts. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:– AI in dubbing and voiceover: neural speech synthesis; synthetic voices; implications for authenticity, authorship, and reception.– AI in subtitling and SDH: automatic speech recognition; MT in subtitling; quality assurance; accessibility challenges.– AI in audio description: multimodal AI for scene understanding; automation in descriptive practice; cultural representation.– AI for the arts and cultural heritage: AVT applications in museums, galleries, and live performance mediation.– Multimodality in AVT research: how AI engages with diverse semiotic resources and reshapes multimodal translation practices.– Cloud-based ecosystems and industry connections: collaborative workflows; training opportunities; professional accreditations; professionalisation of students.– Accessibility and inclusion: AI as driver and/or barrier across global contexts.– Creativity vs automation: tensions between human expertise and machine-generated outputs.– Pedagogy and training: integrating AI in AVT curricula; fostering critical and creative skills; addressing resistance to change. – Ethics, agency, and power: copyright; data and voice ownership; bias in AI systems; socio-cultural consequences.– WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, IRC, web chat in films, TV series, animated, films, documentaries, live broadcasts.– Historical perspective of web and digital systems as representative narrative tools in audiovisual products (e.g., IRC logs in 1990s films vs. WhatsApp/iMessage threads today).– Industry perspectives: how streaming platforms, LSPs, and tech providers incorporate AI in large-scale AVT projects.– User experience and reception studies: audience perception of AI-mediated dubbing, subtitling, and AD; impact on immersion and comprehension. Keynote Speakers and Distinguished GuestsThe conference is honoured to welcome leading national and international colleagues, whose presence will foster dialogue between established expertise, emerging research, and innovativepractice, including:Giuseppe Balirano (Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”, Italy) – President, Associazione Italiana di Anglistica (AIA)Frederic Chaume (Universitat Jaume I, Spain)Elena Di Giovanni (Università di Macerata, Italy)Jorge Díaz Cintas (University College London, UK)Margherita Dore (Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy)Serenella Massidda (Università di Chieti-Pescara, Italy)Irene Ranzato (Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy) – AIA Board Member Submission GuidelinesWe warmly invite scholars, researchers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders to submit an abstract of up to 300 words (excluding references) and a short bio (max. 150 words) via mail to alessandra.rizzo@unipa.it; gabriele.uzzo@unipa.it; marialuisa.pensabene@unipa.it. Proposals should engage with the conference themes and highlight original research, case studies, or professional experience. Please clearly indicate research objectives, methodology, and expectedresults. Important DatesEXTENDED Deadline for abstract submission: 07 January 2026Notification of acceptance: 31 January 2026Conference dates: 23–24 April 2026 Registration and FeesAccepted presenters and participants are required to register for the conference.Conference fee: €180,00 (includes access to all sessions, conference materials, and coffee/tea breaks).Registration fee applicable to PhD students: €90,00.ESIST members attending the conference as speakers will benefit from a reduced registration fee(€120,00). ESIST members attending as auditors will pay €150,00.Social dinner: €45,00.
