[iva] CFP: The 1st International Workshop on Design Fiction for Human-Agent Interaction and Mental Health @ HAI 2025 Yokohama, Japan

[Negin Hashmati]

The 1st International Workshop on Design Fiction for Human-Agent Interaction and Mental Health

@ HAI 2025, Yokohama, Japan *** 10th November 2025



https://sites.google.com/view/futurewellbeing/home<https://sites.google.com/view/ivafuture/home>



The 1st International Workshop on Design Fiction for Human-Agent Interaction and Mental Health will explore the potential implementations of human-agent interaction and mental health, with a specific focus on virtual companions. To achieve this, we will be using design fiction to anticipate individual, societal, ethical, and cultural implications.



This workshop explores the role of virtual companions in mental health contexts through the lens of design fiction. Advances in generative AI and large language models have accelerated the development and adoption of virtual companions—agents that can form relationships with users. While these systems present opportunities for support and wellbeing, they also raise critical concerns around privacy, data use, emotional vulnerability, and cultural stereotypes.



The aim of this workshop is to critically examine these issues and collaboratively explore speculative futures of virtual companions in mental health. Using design fiction methods—including speculative scenarios, artifacts, and sci-fi prototyping—participants will investigate the societal, ethical, and cultural implications of human-agent interaction in this sensitive domain.



We welcome submissions from a broad range of disciplines such as engineering, computer science, psychology, sociology, cognitive science, and design. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  *   Exploration of how virtual companions can affect users' mental health
  *   The design of virtual companions (both avatar design and behavioral design) and how this affects user trust
  *   The risks of reinforcing stereotypes, especially gender stereotypes
  *   Ethical concerns regarding the use of virtual companions for mental health purposes



IMPORTANT DATES - Workshop Papers (2-4 pages)

10th October 2025: Paper Submissions

17th October 2025: Notifications



SUBMISSIONS: https://sites.google.com/view/futurewellbeing/home<https://sites.google.com/view/ivafuture/home>



ORGANIZERS

Negin Hashmati, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Therése Skoog, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Mohammad Obaid, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Thommy Eriksson, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden



Negin Hashmati (she/her)
PhD Student in Interaction Design
Division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Chalmers University of Technology<https://www.chalmers.se/en/>
Gothenburg, Sweden

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