Core Insights - The current AI conference model is deemed unsustainable due to overwhelming submission rates, leading to a focus on quantity over quality in research outputs [4][10][18] - A significant increase in publication rates has been observed, with the average author publishing over 4.5 papers annually, doubling in the last decade [4][18] - Environmental concerns are raised, particularly regarding carbon emissions from travel, with NeurIPS 2024's travel emissions exceeding the daily carbon output of Vancouver [19] - Mental health issues are prevalent among researchers, with over 71% of discussions on Reddit expressing negative sentiments, and 35% mentioning mental health challenges [22][24] Challenges Facing AI Conferences - The exponential growth in submissions is straining the peer review system, raising concerns about fairness and academic integrity [10][12] - The rapid pace of AI research often renders findings outdated by the time they are presented at conferences [12][18] - The physical capacity of venues is being exceeded, as seen with NeurIPS 2024, which has a venue capacity of approximately 18,000, leading to restricted access for many participants [27] - The pressure to publish is creating a toxic environment, where researchers prioritize quantity over the depth of their work [7][24] Proposed Solutions - The Community-Federated Conference (CFC) model is suggested as a sustainable alternative, separating traditional conference functions into independent yet interconnected layers [29][30] - The first layer involves a centralized digital platform for peer review and publication, allowing for rolling submissions throughout the year [31] - The second layer consists of regional centers for showcasing research, reducing the need for large venues and minimizing carbon footprints [32] - The third layer emphasizes digital synchronization and collaboration, connecting researchers across regions through virtual channels [33]

Core Viewpoint - The current model of AI academic conferences is deemed unsustainable due to overwhelming submission rates, environmental impacts, and mental health concerns among researchers [5][11][15]. Group 1: Challenges Facing AI Conferences - The average annual publication rate in the AI field has exceeded 4.5 papers per author, doubling in the past decade, leading to a focus on quantity over quality [7][22]. - The travel emissions from NeurIPS 2024 alone exceeded 8,254 tons of CO2 equivalent, surpassing the daily emissions of Vancouver, highlighting the environmental cost of these conferences [23][25]. - Over 71% of discussions on Reddit regarding AI conferences expressed negative sentiments, with 35% mentioning mental health issues such as anxiety and burnout [28][29]. Group 2: Proposed Solutions - The Community-Federated Conference (CFC) model is proposed as a sustainable and equitable alternative, separating traditional conference functions into three interconnected layers: global peer review, regional centers for knowledge dissemination, and a unified digital platform for collaboration [38][40][41]. - The first layer involves a centralized digital platform for peer review and publication, allowing for rolling submissions independent of physical conferences [39]. - The second layer consists of regional centers that facilitate local presentations, reducing the need for large venues and minimizing carbon footprints [40]. Group 3: Future Directions - The CFC model aims to address the structural issues of traditional conferences by promoting local engagement and reducing the pressure on authors while maintaining academic rigor [38][41]. - The shift towards a decentralized approach is seen as essential to foster collaboration and inclusivity within the AI research community [39][40].