KHIPU 2027 — Frequently Asked Questions

April 5–9, 2027 • Centro de Difusão Internacional (CDI), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil

1. General Information About KHIPU

1.1. What is KHIPU and what are its aims?

KHIPU.AI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening artificial intelligence research, education, and community across Latin America. Every two years, we organize our flagship event—KHIPU: the Latin American Meeting in Artificial Intelligence—which has trained 1,200+ students and researchers across four editions alongside 30+ KHIPUx community events across 10 countries.

1.2. Why the name “KHIPU”?

Khipus (or quipus) were ancient data systems fashioned from knotted strings historically used by cultures in the Andean region of South America to record numerical and narrative information. One of the main goals of our organization is to “knit” a lasting network of Latin American talent in AI.

1.3. When and where will KHIPU 2027 take place?

KHIPU 2027 will be held from April 5 to 9, 2027, at the Centro de Difusão Internacional (CDI), University of São Paulo (USP) in São Paulo, Brazil.

2. Applications and Selection Criteria

2.1. How can I participate in KHIPU 2027?

General applications for KHIPU 2027 ran from July 20 to September 7, 2026 and are now closed. All submitted applications are currently under review.

Organizations interested in participating as sponsors—which includes guaranteed participant passes for team members alongside recruiting and community visibility—can explore our 2027 Sponsorship Prospectus or contact [email protected].

2.2. Who could apply?

The open call welcomed anyone actively studying or working in AI/ML, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, researchers, industry practitioners, and public-sector or nonprofit professionals.

2.3. Does applying guarantee an in-person spot?

No. Because in-person capacity is around 500 participants and we receive over 1,000 applications per edition, selection is competitive. Completing an application does not guarantee acceptance or financial support.

2.4. What are the selection criteria for attending KHIPU?

Each application is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers (researchers, professors, and AI professionals) across academic and technical background, current relationship and active contributions to AI/ML, motivation, leadership and community-building potential, and disciplinary and geographic representation across Latin America.

2.5. Do applicants need to live in Latin America?

No, the call is open internationally. However, because KHIPU.AI’s mission is to strengthen the Latin American AI community, applicants with meaningful ties to Latin America—through residence, institutional affiliation, collaborations, or community work—receive priority consideration.

2.6. What AI background is expected?

KHIPU is an advanced scientific meeting, so participants are expected to have foundational grounding in machine learning—whether studying in the field, applying ML in another research discipline, or working directly in AI/ML.

2.7. Can alumni of previous editions attend again?

Yes. Having attended KHIPU 2019, 2023, or 2025 is not a barrier to applying, though a dedicated majority of spots are reserved for first-time participants.

3. Application Timeline and Notifications

3.1. What was the application window?

General applications opened on July 20, 2026 and closed on September 7, 2026.

3.2. When will selection results be announced?

Acceptance notifications will be sent by late October / November 2026.

3.3. Is there a waiting list?

Yes. A group of waitlisted candidates will be notified if additional in-person spots become available.

3.4. What if I need to update information on an already submitted application?

Submitted applications cannot be edited directly in the portal. If you need to report an urgent correction or contact update, please email [email protected] from the email address registered on your application, including your full name and a clear description of the update.

4. Fees, Financial Support, and Visas

4.1. Is there a registration fee?

No. Participation in KHIPU 2027 is 100% free for all selected attendees. Event costs are made possible by our sponsors and institutional partners.

4.2. Are travel and accommodation grants available?

Yes. Travel and accommodation grants are primarily aimed at selected students and academics based in Latin America (not industry attendees), with 520+ travel and accommodation grants awarded across our 2019, 2023, and 2025 editions. Requesting financial support during the application process does not affect admission decisions.

4.3. Does KHIPU.AI cover visa, insurance, or immigration costs?

No. KHIPU.AI does not cover expenses related to visas, travel insurance, or immigration documentation, though we provide official invitation letters to support visa applications for accepted participants. Attendees are strongly encouraged to arrange travel health insurance prior to travelling.

5. Format, Language, and Practical Sessions

5.1. Will remote participation be available?

Yes. Keynotes and selected sessions will be streamed online free of charge; access links will be published on khipu.ai ahead of the event.

5.2. What language is KHIPU conducted in?

The official language of KHIPU 2027 is English, and lectures and practical sessions are conducted in English (with Q&A and mentoring welcoming Portuguese and Spanish).

5.3. What background and tools are used in practical sessions?

Participants are expected to have programming experience in Python and familiarity with linear algebra, probability, and core machine learning concepts. Practical tutorials run in cloud environments such as Google Colab using Python and modern deep learning frameworks; attendees are encouraged to bring their own laptops (no specialized local GPU hardware is required).

6. Poster Sessions and Call for Workshops

6.1. How do poster sessions work?

Accepted participants are invited to present posters on research or applied projects in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, or interdisciplinary applications. Submissions are non-archival (so work may also be submitted to conferences or journals) and may include novel research, applied systems, or extensions of published work. Posters should follow A0 portrait orientation.

6.2. How can I propose a workshop for KHIPU 2027?

Our Call for Workshops is open through November 6, 2026 (11:59 PM AoE), with acceptance notifications sent by November 27, 2026. Accepted workshops will take place on April 8–9, 2027 during the last two days of KHIPU 2027. Full submission guidelines and topic areas are available on the Call for Workshops page.

7. Startup Track (“KHIPU for Startups”)

7.1. What is the KHIPU Startup Track and who is it for?

Co-located with KHIPU 2027 on Wednesday, April 7 – Thursday, April 8, 2027, KHIPU for Startups is a dedicated 2-day track designed for a curated cohort of technical founders, CTOs, and AI leads from high-potential AI startups across Latin America. Planned programming includes fireside chats with global and regional AI founders and researchers, technical and ecosystem sessions, and community exchange alongside the broader KHIPU gathering at USP (full program and speakers to be announced).

7.2. How do startups apply for the Startup Track?

The Startup Track uses a dedicated, lightweight application process focused on technical depth and what your team is building. Full application details for Latin American startup teams will be announced soon on the KHIPU for Startups page and across KHIPU.AI’s official channels.

8. Additional Inquiries

8.1. Will accepted attendees receive a certificate of attendance?

Yes. Accepted in-person participants who complete the event activities receive an official certificate of attendance following the event.

8.2. Who can I contact with additional questions?