Introduction

The 2nd Riphah International Conference on Language, Literature, and Culture (RICOLLAC) 2026 builds upon the success of its inaugural edition, further establishing itself as a leading hybrid scholarly platform that engages participants both online and in person. Acknowledging artificial intelligence as one of the most significant innovations of our time and recognising its growing impact on humanity and the humanities, the conference is organised around the theme “Reclaiming the Humanities in the AI Era.” The event provides a vibrant forum for scholars, researchers, practitioners, students, policymakers, and industry leaders to participate in multidisciplinary dialogues. It invites critical engagement with contemporary approaches to literature, emerging issues and innovations in language education and linguistic research, and ecological perspectives on language use, particularly in relation to the expanding influence of AI across these domains.