Negotiation Transformed? AI in Bargaining and its Broader Implications
AI tools are revolutionizing negotiation practices.
Professionals increasingly use Large Language Model (“LLM”) chatbots as partners—both in preparation and as copilots during live negotiations. Firms also routinely deploy AI systems to monitor market shifts, digest complex information, support decision-making, and even autonomously negotiate routine agreements. As these tools advance, research is beginning to identify their broader effects on employees, organizations, markets, and legal systems.
This multi-disciplinary conference will convene expertise from a range of fields: computer scientists developing new LLMs and data systems; business leaders developing and adopting AI negotiation tools; behavioral, organizational, and legal researchers; and negotiation educators and trainers. Through interdisciplinary inquiry, the conference will ask: where is AI really changing negotiation, where is it not, and what should we do about it? The conversation will extend beyond bargaining efficiency to questions of trust, organizational coordination, market dynamics, and how responsibility should be shared among humans, machines, and institutions.
This event is part of the Frontiers in Data Science and AI initiative at the Data Science Institute; and co-sponsored by the AI in Business Initiative at the Columbia Business School.
Details & Registration
Friday, October 30, 2026 (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
Columbia Business School, David Geffen Hall (3rd Floor) - Google Maps
Conference Themes
Augmented Negotiators: How AI can support professionals before, during, and after negotiations, while enhancing decision-making, creativity, learning, and organizational insight.
Autonomous AI Negotiators: How autonomous AI is changing the speed, scale, and dynamics of negotiation, including which negotiations can be delegated to AI and where human judgment remains essential.
Ethical, Organizational & Legal Implications: How AI affects bargaining power, responsibility, contractual intent, and professional obligations, as well as the guardrails needed to address bias, discrimination, and other risks.
AI and Negotiation Education: How education related to negotiation must evolve as AI changes professional practice, including new approaches to simulation, coaching, analysis, and to the skills future negotiators will need.
Agenda
Speakers to be announced soon!
Friday, October 30, 2026
8:30 AM: Doors Open
9:00 AM: Coffee & Networking (15 min)
9:15 AM: Opening Remarks (15 min)
9:30 AM: Keynote: AI as the Negotiator (30 min)
10:00 AM: Emerging Practice and Research: Lightning Presentations (60 min)
11:00 AM: Coffee Break (15 min)
11:15 AM: Panel Discussion: Social and Legal Implications of Autonomous AI (60 min)
12:15 PM: Lunch and Networking (75 min)
1:30 PM: Afternoon Introductions: Program Reflection (15 min)
1:45 PM: Keynote: AI as a Coach (30 min)
2:15 PM: Emerging Practice and Research: Lightning Presentations (60 min)
3:15 PM: Coffee Break (15 min)
3:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Social, Organizational, and Legal Implications of AI Coaching (45 min)
4:15 PM: Panel Discussion: Teaching Negotiation (45 min)
5:00 PM: Mixer: Poster and Demo Session (60 min)
6:00 PM: Event Ends
Speaker Abstracts
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FAQs
This event will be held on the Columbia Business School (Manhattanville Campus). While event registration is required, external (non-CUID) guests will not need a QR code to enter the building.