A major paradigm shift is the emergence of AI-native RAN, where artificial intelligence becomes a foundational component of radio access network architecture, control, and operation. This evolution combines two tightly related dimensions: AI/ML-based use cases and architectural concepts for future RAN and advanced experimental platforms on AI-native 6G RAN.

AI/ML is expected to play a transformative role in 6G RAN use cases and architecture, from PHY layer innovations to system-level optimization. While early applications have focused on automation, the integration of AI into air interface design and RAN architecture raises fundamental questions regarding performance gains, real-time constraints, robustness under varying radio conditions, energy efficiency, and ML lifecycle management. Emerging directions such as intelligent terminals, device–edge collaboration, semantic and goal-oriented communication, and AI-driven channel modeling call for new architectural approaches and experimentally validated use cases aligned with ongoing standardization efforts (e.g., AI-RAN Alliance, 3GPP). A range of EU-funded collaborative projects (e.g., 6GARROW (EU-ROK), 6G-MIRAI-HARMONY (EU-JP), 6G-XCEL (EU-US), 6G-LEADER, PASSIONATE, CONVERGE, 6G-XR) are addressing complementary aspects within this vast research agenda.

In addition, as the research landscape transitions from 5G deployment to 6G definition and early realization, advanced experimental platforms have become a strategic asset for validating disruptive technologies at scale. Major stakeholders have invested heavily in large-scale, open, and programmable research infrastructures, including EU SLICES-RI, SNS experimental platforms, and US NSF PAWR/Colosseum, and FABRIC. These platforms now play a central role in technology validation, standardization, and policy alignment. These experimental platforms are evolving to support the full lifecycle of AI-enabled RAN research, including data and metadata management, AI model lifecycle orchestration, and MLOps/AIOps pipelines for continuous deployment, monitoring, and validation of AI-driven RAN functions. These capabilities are essential to assess emerging concepts such as Open RAN intelligence, AI-driven control loops, digital twins, and cloud–edge–RAN convergence.

The workshop is dedicated to strengthening international cooperation across these domains, bringing together academia, industry, experimental platform operators, and funding agencies. It will provide a forum to exchange results, align research directions, and foster collaboration across regions (EU, US, JP, ROK, Brazil, Africa), contributing to a shared vision for interoperable, sustainable, and AI-ready 6G RAN infrastructures.

Building on a successful international cooperation workshop series held annually at EuCNC since 2019 as well as an AI in RAN workshop held in 2025, this edition continues to promote sustained international dialogue and collaboration in AI-native 6G RAN research and experimentation.