Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming our technical priorities and the way our community organizes, collaborates, and delivers impact. In this environment, coordination alone is insufficient. We require structured execution, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and assessable outcomes.
Within IEEE, the IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS) is one of four societies entrusted with this mission. SPS helps coordinate the IEEE Artificial Intelligence Coalition (AIC) Leadership Committee, which oversees cross-society AI activities, aligns technical initiatives, and advances shared priorities across IEEE units. This operational role establishes IEEE’s engagement with AI as a unified technical domain.
From fragmentation to structured coordination
IEEE’s AI activities are extensive but fragmented among societies, platforms, and entry points, creating capability gaps. The AIC brings together societies such as the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society; the IEEE Computer Society; and the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society within a coordinated framework focused on three core functions:
- Aggregation: Consolidating AI-related resources and initiatives into a unified access point at ai.ieee.org, improving navigability for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders.
- Translation: Converting technical outputs into usable formats such as workshops, curated content, and domain-specific briefings, while preserving technical depth.
- Alignment: Identifying overlapping initiatives and coordinating joint efforts, including cosponsored activities and shared programming.
We will measure the success of these functions by their outcomes: greater participation, reduced duplication, and higher-impact results.
Extending the model to conferences
Our conference portfolio faces a comparable coordination challenge. Beginning in 2027, ICIP will transition from a standalone event to an integrated technical week, colocated with SPS conferences in speech and language processing. This integrated technical week will also feature the IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence, hosted by SPS. This is not a merger but a purposeful restructuring to foster closer connections. The rationale is technical: modern multimodal AI systems span image, speech, and language domains. Strict separation at the conference level restricts valuable cross-domain interactions.
The integrated format is designed to
- enable cross-domain exchange
- increase industry and policy engagement
- create shared spaces for emerging topics.
This evolution involves certain risks. A more extensive scope may dilute focus, and colocation could add complexity. SPS will maintain independent review processes, preserve distinct conference identities, and carefully assess outcomes before implementing permanent changes.
Global positioning with local relevance
Singapore was selected as the 2027 host location for its ease of access, strong ecosystem, regional engagement, and proximity to rapidly developing AI markets. More broadly, this shows a strategic shift: IEEE, and SPS within it, must serve as a global platform for researchers, industry, and policy stakeholders.
What this means for members
These developments are intended to provide simpler access to AI resources across IEEE, more integrated conference experiences for cross-domain work, and expanded opportunities for partnership and visibility.
These are objectives, not guarantees. Achieving them will demand effective execution and active engagement from all stakeholders.
Focusing forward
The AIC and the new conference model are structured experiments. Their success will be determined by measurable improvements in collaboration and impact. SPS’s responsibility is to ensure these efforts remain technically grounded, operationally disciplined, and responsive to member needs.
As always, I welcome your perspective. Constructive criticism and practical suggestions are essential. Our Society is strongest when it combines technical excellence with honest self-assessment.
Finally, I extend special thanks to the SPS Executive Office for their help in putting together this note.
Thank you for reading.
Kostas Plataniotis
