ICAFS 2025: Advancing Fuzzy Logic, AI, and Linguistic Research in Iași, Romania

The 17th International Conference on Theory and Application of Fuzzy Systems, Soft Computing, and Artificial Intelligence Tools (ICAFS 2025) was held this year in the historic city of Iași, Romania, gathering prominent researchers, innovators, and academics from around the world. The conference served as a vibrant forum for scientific exchange in fuzzy logic, artificial intelligence, linguistic modeling, and computational sciences.

This edition of ICAFS had a special significance as it was dedicated to the memory of Lotfi Zadeh, the world‑renowned Azerbaijani‑origin scientist and founder of fuzzy logic, whose pioneering work continues to influence modern AI research.

 

The conference stood out for the exceptional participation of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU). With 47 presentations delivered by its faculty and researchers, ASOIU formed one of the largest institutional delegations of the event, showcasing the university’s scientific strength and its expanding role in international AI research.

I was honored to take part in ICAFS 2025 and, together with Associate Professor Dr. Farida Huseynova, present three research papers, all of which were accepted and featured in the program.

Our Accepted Research Papers

1. Distinctive Characteristics of Hedges in English and French Languages

2. The Impact of Hedges on Meaning Ambiguity in English and French

3. Gender‑Specific Language Patterns in Sentiment Analysis

These studies highlight the dynamic intersection of linguistics, semantics, and AI‑driven language modeling, contributing to a growing interdisciplinary dialogue that is critical for the evolution of human‑centric artificial intelligence.

 

International Collaboration and Conference Organizers

ICAFS 2025 was co-organized by several leading institutions, including:

• Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU)
• Lotfi Zadeh Legacy and Artificial Intelligence Association
• Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași
• University of Siegen (Germany)
• Berkeley Initiative in Soft Computing (BISC)
• And multiple prominent universities and research centers from Europe and beyond

This broad collaboration emphasizes the global relevance of fuzzy logic and its applications across scientific fields.

The conference was chaired by Dr. Rafiq Aliyev, Director of ASOIU’s MBA Programs, while ASOIU’s Rector, Dr. Rufat Azizov, delivered an important scientific presentation.

Several ASOIU scholars were actively represented, including:

• Associate Professor Vazeh Asgarov
• Professor Latafat Gardashova
• Associate Professor Farida Huseynova
• PhD Aziz Nuriyev
• PhD Nigar Adilova
• PhD student Shamil Ahmadov

Their collective contributions further demonstrate ASOIU’s growing influence in global fuzzy systems and AI research.

 

Key Scientific Themes at ICAFS 2025

The conference covered a broad range of cutting‑edge topics, including:

• Z‑number approaches
• Linguistic uncertainty
• Fuzzy logic modeling
• Neural networks and learning algorithms
• Intelligent decision‑making systems
• Applications of AI in engineering, economics, linguistics, and social sciences

This thematic diversity reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its expanding interdisciplinary impact.

All accepted papers from ICAFS 2025 will be published in the prestigious Springer Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems series, ensuring SCOPUS indexing and strong international visibility for participating researchers.

 

My Reflections on ICAFS 2025

Attending ICAFS 2025 was both an honor and an intellectually enriching experience. Beyond presenting our research to an international scientific community, the conference offered opportunities to:

• Strengthen global collaborations between Azerbaijani and international scholars
• Highlight ADNSU’s academic achievements
• Honor the enduring scientific legacy of Lotfi Zadeh
• Explore innovative intersections of linguistics, AI, and fuzzy logic

This event reaffirmed ASOIU’s and ADNSU’s commitment to advancing global academic progress. I am proud to contribute to this momentum and to participate in a conference that shapes the future of fuzzy systems and AI research.