University of Michigan faculty lead organization of AAMAS 2025 in Detroit

The 24th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS) took place in Detroit, Michigan, last week from May 19-23, with faculty from the University of Michigan playing a pivotal role in organizing the event. 

Widely considered a top conference in the area of AI and agent technology, AAMAS is the flagship event of the International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (IFAAMAS) and has been held annually since 2002. Situated in the famed Renaissance Center along the banks of the Detroit River, this year’s conference drew over 600 attendees for a week of knowledge sharing, discussion, and collaboration in the area of multi-agent systems.

Michael Wellman, Lynn A. Conway Collegiate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at U-M, and Assistant Research Scientist Mithun Chakraborty served as local chair and co-chair of the conference, spearheading its organization. Several other CSE faculty, including assistant professors Elizabeth Bondi-Kelly and Alex Rodríguez, were also instrumental in planning the event.

The event featured a rich program, including technical sessions and interactive panels on a variety of topics, as well as keynote addresses by influential AI researchers. Among them was a keynote address by U-M’s own Rada Mihalcea, Janice M. Jenkins Collegiate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Director of the Michigan AI Lab. In her talk titled “The Agent Paradox: Can Multi-Agent Systems Replicate the Complexity of Human Cognition and Social Behavior?”, Mihalcea discussed the evolving relationship between AI agents and human behavior, as well as the implications of AI in human-centered disciplines.

The conference featured numerous technical sessions covering a wide array of topics, including game theory, reinforcement learning, multiagent learning, planning and reasoning, human-agent interaction, ethics in AI, and more, providing attendees with a comprehensive view of the latest research related to autonomous agents. Workshops and tutorials offered additional hands-on learning opportunities, further showcasing the latest innovations in AI technology and research.

The local organizing team extended their gratitude to the sponsors, volunteers, and participants who made the event possible. “The success of AAMAS 2025 reflects the spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines our field,” said Wellman.

Despite the event’s success, it was not entirely without obstacles. “Although it was a great conference, it was regrettable that many international participants could not attend due to current government policies and travel challenges,” noted Wellman. “We missed their presence and contributions.”