More at http://axon.cs.byu.edu/CreativeAI/

Creative Intelligent Systems
AAAI Spring Symposium Series
March 26-28, 2008
Stanford University

Although it seems clear that creativity plays an important role in developing intelligent systems, it is less clear how to model, simulate, or evaluate creativity in such systems. In other words, it is often easier to recognize the presence and effect of creativity than to describe or prescribe it. The purpose of this symposium is to explore the synergies between creative cognition and intelligent systems in a cross-disciplinary setting that fosters cooperation both in designing creative systems and in creatively designing systems. This focus on creativity in the context of intelligent systems has the potential for increasing innovation in existing fields of research as well as for defining new fields of study, including:

1. Artificially Creative Systems: development of new types of intelligent systems that produce or simulate creativity using novel approaches to reasoning, searching, and representing knowledge. These systems may be inspired by human creativity or by the possibilities of artificial systems beyond human capabilities.

2. Computational Models of Human Creativity: construct cognitive models of human creativity that can be the basis for computational creativity.

3. Intelligent Systems for Supporting Creativity: produce user interfaces, interaction design, decision support, and data modeling techniques that lead to the development of intelligent assistants that support the user in being more creative.

To guide potential participants, the following is a (representative) list of possible topics that could be included in the symposium.

• paradigms for understanding creativity, including heuristic search, analogical reasoning, and re-representation;
• creativity in different disciplines, including design, art, music, and science;
• perspectives on creativity, including models of human behavior, intelligent systems, and creativity-support tools;
• the role of creativity in learning, innovation, improvisation, and other pursuits;
• factors that enhance creativity, including conflict, diversity, knowledge, intuition, reward structures, and technologies
• social aspects of creativity, including the relationship between individual and social creativity, diffusion of ideas, collaboration and creativity, formation of creative teams, and simulating creativity in social settings.

Participation in the symposium is open to all, with the format consisting of a mixture of planned speakers and open discussion and working groups. Therefore, all attendees will participate in a significant portion of the proceedings, with the atmosphere being informal.

Persons interested in contributing a paper to the symposium proceedings must submit an expression of intent by August 15. Contributions will be then be solicited in the form of single page abstracts (due Oct. 5), and review decisions will be made by the program committee based on these abstracts. Final papers may be up to 8 pages (AAAI format) in length and will be due in camera-ready format January 25.

Since AAAI limits symposium attendance to between 40-60, persons interested in attending the symposium without contributing a paper are required to send email (by December 4) to reserve a spot.

For questions, to express interest in participating (either as an attendee or as a contributor), or to submit abstracts, email

Important Dates:
August 15:    Intention to contribute due
October 5:    Abstract submissions due
November 2:    Notification of acceptance
December 4:    Intention to participate due (for those not contributing papers)
January 25:    Camera-ready copy due
February 8:    Registration deadline
March 26-28:    Symposium