Coalition news and updates.

SEPTEMBER 2026

The Coalition Joins the Nvidia/Linux Foundation's Open Secure AI Alliance

The RhetAI Coalition has joined the Open Secure AI Alliance, convened by Nvidia and the Linux Foundation. The membership brings rhetorical expertise on persuasion and influence to a coalition of organizations working on secure, trustworthy AI.

AUGUST 2026

TCU Joins the Coalition

Texas Christian University has joined the RhetAI Coalition as an institutional member. The TCU team strengthens the coalition's research capacity in rhetoric, writing, and the study of persuasive technologies.

Institute for Humane Robotics Partners with a Research Challenge

The Institute for Humane Robotics has partnered with the coalition on Research Challenge 8, examining how persuasion and manipulation tactics change when an AI system has a body. The team is investigating anthropomorphic design as persuasive architecture in robotics.

Transresearch Consortium Partners with a Research Challenge

The Transresearch Consortium has partnered with the coalition on Research Challenge 7, exploring how measures of AI capabilities can be incorporated into assessments of state strength. The work spans domestic political capacity and international capabilities.

JULY 2026

2026-2027 Research Challenge Teams Underway

Eight research challenge teams are now at work across the coalition, bringing together more than sixty researchers and scholars worldwide. Teams are responding to challenges proposed by international partner organizations at the intersection of persuasion and technology.

MARCH 15, 2026

2026-2027 Research Challenges Announced

Our latest challenge questions have been announced and new teams are convening now. The challenges continue the coalition's annual cycle of international, multidisciplinary research on AI and persuasion.

MARCH 26, 2026

AlphaPersuade Summit 2.0

The AlphaPersuade Summit returned in 2026 at Beall Applied Innovation, University of California, Irvine. Responding to the call from industry to address AI's persuasive ability, the summit presented a framework for ethical persuasion that can be tooled across AI technologies, with an invitation-only presummit on March 24-25.

SEPTEMBER 2025

RhetAI On More Human Podcast

One of RhetAI's Research Challenge Teams was invited to join the More Human podcast. Kathryn Broyles and Markus Gottschling discussed their challenge team's work and the coalition's activities.

JULY 2025

Arizona State University Joins the Coalition

Co-Director of the RhetAI Coalition, Roger Thompson, now leads the coalition from Arizona State University, where he has taken the position of Director of Writing Programs.

MAY 2025

Missouri University of Science and Technology Joins the Coalition

The RhetAI Coalition announced that Missouri University of Science and Technology has joined the coalition and will spearhead efforts in grant funding. Ryan Cheek and Carleigh Davis head up our work with the university.

JANUARY 2025

Inaugural Annual Research Challenges Announced

The RhetAI Coalition launched its inaugural working groups to respond to the Research Challenges on AI and Persuasion presented by the Center for Humane Technology.

NOVEMBER 2024

Auburn University Joins the Coalition

The RhetAI Coalition announced that Auburn University is joining our coalition. Led by Chris Basgier, the Auburn team developed our publication arm to share the coalition's work.

JUNE 2024

RhetAI Coalition Founded

The RhetAI team announced the establishment of a groundbreaking research and advocacy coalition to respond to AI's unprecedented and often invisible powers of persuasion. Led by researchers at Stony Brook University, founding members include the Center for Humane Technology and the Center for Rhetorical Science Communication Research on Artificial Intelligence at the University of Tubingen.