ULisboa hosts Jornadas AI 2026

The University of Lisbon organised the Jornadas IA (AI Journeys), a meeting that gathered professors, researchers, students, experts, and administrative staff to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education. The event served as a space for dialogue and collaboration, promoting the sharing of experiences, concerns, and solutions for responsible technology use.

With the increasing growth of AI tools and its dissemination in academic everyday life, institutions of higher education face new challenges. For instance, defining clear orientations of the ethical and informed use; assuring that the academic community receives proper training; and supporting pedagogical methods that harness AI’s potential.

The event started with an opening  session, followed by a set of lectures on the impacts of AI tools in higher education. Topics included the AI ecosystem, AI-assisted creativity and emerging challenges in pedagogical practice. 

Fábio Cosme and Diogo Matos of the Foundation for National Scientific Computing (FCCN) presented to the ULisboa community IAEdu.pt, a digital platform developed by the Foundation for Science and Technology, through its digital services unit, FCCN. This pilot project aims to democratise access to artificial intelligence in Portugal. Followed by this presentation, Nuno Montenegro, a professor at Lisbon School of Architecture of ULisboa, shared his vision for the use of AI in creative fields. He presented this system as a supporting tool for the development of a work, project, or outcome, with humans at the core of the process.

The morning continued with a round table that gathered professors and experts from different fields, providing a multidisciplinary discussion on the risks, opportunities and ethical implications of AI. During the evening, parallel ‘Show&Tell’ sessions featured reports of concrete experiences of the use of AI in ULisboa’s various Schools. These sessions highlighted innovative projects and practices already implemented in the academic sphere. 

The event culminated in a ‘World Café’, a collaborative session dedicated to drafting a document with recommendations and guidelines for the ethical use of AI at the university. This stage reinforced the participative nature of the Jornadas and ULisboa’s commitment to the responsible and strategic integration of these technologies. 

The Jornadas IA at the University of Lisbon reinforces ULisboa’s role as an institution aware of technological transformations, committed to preparing its community for future challenges. In reflecting collectively and sharing practices, the institution demonstrates the significance of building a sound, ethical and informed approach to artificial intelligence in higher education.