Technologies related to languages have never been this close to our daily lives. This development is leading the way to novel perspectives of language learning and understanding, shaped by contributions from linguists and non-linguists. Innovative research and technology are emerging alongside recent advances in model structures. While AI-related methodologies are having noticeable impacts on human language research, what crucial roles does linguistics play? As linguists, we are witnessing profound transformations in our field due to the methodological evolution brought about by large language models and their applications. These developments present both challenges and exciting opportunities to explore human language from both macro- and micro-level perspectives. For example, the inductive nature of learning in large language models potentially challenges assumptions about the role and nature of representations in language acquisition and processing. Motivated by the shared considerations of our colleagues at the Institute of Linguistics (ILAS) and the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL), we decided to host an international conference to collect and process ideas about how the research and applications of language learning and understanding will be viewed and conducted by AI scientists and linguists. Through this conference, we aim to bring together AI scientists and linguists to explore or at least to outline the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
