The Yogananda School of AI, Computers and Data Science at Shoolini University, in collaboration with IIIT Una and IIT Ropar's Technology Innovation Hub (iHub AWaDH), organised the 2nd International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Computing (HCICC-2026) on Monday, June 22.
The conference brought together academicians, researchers, industry professionals and students from India and abroad. They discussed recent developments and emerging possibilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Computing, Healthcare and Software Engineering.
The program began with a traditional lamp-lighting, followed by a welcome address by Prof Virender Rihani, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology. The inaugural session was attended by university leaders, invited experts and participants from various institutions.
Addressing the gathering, Shoolini University Founder Chancellor Prof PK Khosla spoke about the importance of research and innovation in solving real-world problems. He encouraged students and researchers to use technology to create solutions that benefit society.
Chief guest Prof HS Baweja stressed the value of collaboration across disciplines and institutions. He said partnerships between academia, industry and research organisations are essential for advancing knowledge and addressing complex challenges.
Prof Ashish Khosla, President, Innovation and Technology, Shoolini University, spoke about the growing impact of AI across sectors and stressed the need to develop technologies that are responsible, ethical and centred on human needs. Representatives from IIT Ropar's iHub AWaDH offered insights into research opportunities, innovation ecosystems and recent advances in AI.
A key feature of the conference was a series of keynote lectures by experts from leading national and international institutions. The talks covered trustworthy AI systems, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), embedded systems, AI in healthcare, virtual reality in education and storytelling, AI-assisted software engineering, and the role of AI in academic publishing.
The keynote speakers included Dr Lynn R Carter from Arizona State University, USA; Dr Tapan Kumar Gandhi from IIT Delhi; Dr Sudip Roy from IIT Roorkee; Dr Tarun Sharma and Dr Kapil Sharma from AIIMS Bilaspur; Dr Varun Dutt from IIT Mandi; and Dr Gagandeep Singh from the Taylor & Francis Group.
The speakers shared their experiences and research findings, giving participants a clearer understanding of current progress, practical applications and future opportunities in AI and related fields. These talks also included interactive discussions, allowing the audience to engage directly with the experts.
The first day of HCICC-2026 closed with exchanges on trustworthy systems, applied AI and cross-institutional work, with speakers underlining the value of joint efforts in Cognitive Computing.
June 22, 2026