Provocations are original and unpublished contributions that propose ideas with the potential to disrupt and expand how we think about conversation and design.

Provocations aim to unsettle comfortable paradigms and inspire reflection. A provocation might question an established view, reveal a tension in the field, or suggest a new way of interpreting familiar terrain. They may take the form of conceptual essays, speculative pieces, design fictions, or critical commentaries that challenge, complicate, or expand how we understand conversational user interfaces and their role in society. We particularly welcome ideas that push boundaries and reimagine the assumptions that guide this community.

The conference theme—“Everyday Embodiments”—invites reflection on conversational systems, their role, and integration into everyday human experiences. This theme offers fertile ground for provocation, connecting design, linguistics, and ethics in new ways. Yet, this theme is only one thread of inspiration. Provocations on other topics are equally welcome, including those that open new directions, revisit familiar questions, or surface ambiguities in the broader landscape of conversational interaction.

What matters most is the ability to provoke: to spark debate, invite fresh perspectives, and open space for new conversations about voice, language, and interaction.

Non-provocative work should not be submitted here, but to the Short Papers & WIP track.

Examples of previously successful provocation papers can be found in the ACM Digital Library.

📅  Important Dates

  • Submission: TBC April 2027
  • Acceptance Notice: TBC May 2027
  • Camera-Ready in PCS: TBC May 2027
  • eRights completed: TBC May 2027
  • TAPS processing completed: TBC June 2027
All deadlines are 23:59 AoE (Anywhere on Earth).

The Process

All submissions will follow the process outlined below.

1. Prepare your paper

Submissions must be in English, in PDF format, and anonymised following the CHI anonymisation policy. Papers should be approximately 3,000–3,500 words, including figures, tables, and appendices (excluding references and acknowledgments).

Please use the official ACM LaTeX or Word templates for preparation.

ACM CCS concepts and keywords are not required for submission, but they will be needed for publication.

Please follow the SIGCHI Guide to an Accessible Submission to ensure accessibility.

2. Submit your paper

Submit your paper to the conference submission system (PCS), including the title, abstract, anonymised manuscript (PDF), and author details (to be revealed only upon acceptance).

By submitting to CUI 2027, authors acknowledge and agree to comply with ACM Publications Policies, including the Policy on Research Involving Human Participants and Subjects.

3. Await reviews

Each paper will be double-anonymously peer reviewed by three experts. Reviewers assess clarity of argument, originality, and provocative potential. Papers that generate lively discussion may be considered successful provocations.

4. Prepare your paper for publication

If accepted, please de-anonymise your paper and add CCS concepts and keywords. At least one author of each accepted paper must register for the conference for the work to appear in the proceedings. Accepted papers will be archived in the ACM Digital Library.

TAPS will generate both a single-column HTML and a two-column PDF version of your paper. We recommend all authors read ACM’s guidance for TAPS Best Practice. Please ensure that you and your co-authors obtain an ORCID ID to complete the publishing process for your accepted paper. Your paper will be published in the CUI Proceedings in the ACM Digital Library. SIGCHI participates in the ACM Open Table of Contents (OpenTOC) service, which means papers will be freely available from this website for the first year after publication. All ACM publications follow the Green Open Access route by default, though authors may opt for Gold Open Access at their discretion.

5. Present your work

Accepted provocations will be presented during a dedicated session designed to encourage open discussion and audience interaction. Details on the session format will be shared closer to the conference.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

ACM has updated its guidelines regarding the use of generative AI tools. Under the ACM Policy on Authorship, authors are responsible for the content of their submissions and the ethical use of technology. The policy outlines key expectations for using AI in research and writing:

  1. When using Artificial Intelligence to conduct research, including the design and methodology of the research project, creation and selection of data sources, designing experiments, generation and collection of data, coding, implementing models, running simulations, data analysis, testing, validating results, deploying software, archiving data and code for reproducibility, or any other aspects of the research lifecycle that are directly relevant to the conclusions of the research underlying the Work, the specific use(s) of AI tools must be described in detail in the methods section of the Work. This includes the creation of artifacts that are directly relevant to the conclusions of the research, such as code, datasets, and charts or figures that rely on the AI tools.
  2. When using Artificial Intelligence to assist with writing an ACM submission, ACM no longer requires the disclosure of information regarding the use of AI (as distinct from AI used in the conduct of the research itself, addressed in item 1 above).
  3. All named authors on an ACM submission will be held responsible and accountable for any problematic content contained in the submission regardless of the source of that problematic content:
    • In the event content integrity issues stemming from the use of AI during authorship are identified prior to publication or posting in the ACM Digital Library, ACM reserves the right to reject submissions in their entirety and impose additional penalties.
    • In the event content integrity issues stemming from the use of AI during authorship are identified after publication or posting in the ACM Digital Library, ACM reserves the right to retract the published Work in its entirety.
    • A retraction notice will be published on the citation page of the published Work, indicating the Work has been retracted because of integrity issues identified after publication, including the inclusion of fraudulent material. ACM may or may not include any reference to the use of Artificial Intelligence in the retraction notice.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the Provocations Chairs Chairs: TBA at provocations2027@cui.acm.org.