AI: Brains and Bits
AI: Brains and Bits symposium
Project team
Prof Mark Sandler – Signal Processing (EECS)
Prof Andrea Benucci – Biology and Experimental Psychology (SBBS)
Dr Costis Papageorgiakis – Theoretical Physics (SPCS)
Prof Abhishek Banerjee – Neuroscience (Blizard)
Prof Boris Khoruzenkho – Mathematics (EECS)
Project description
AI is ever-present: in the news, at work, creating music and movies. But how it works is poorly understood; without understanding, this new, exciting but potentially dangerous technology won’t be trustworthy, explainable, energy-efficient and correct.
Our academic consortium addresses the challenge of understanding how AI works by combining disparate, complementary skill sets from Theoretical Physics, Pure Mathematics, Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Neuroscience and Psychology. We represent 4 S&E Schools and Blizard, including representation from HSS to be extended. We call this science of AI ‘Artificial Neuroscience’, mirroring the multi-disciplinarity of Neuroscience.
We believe this combination of disciplines is unique worldwide. Though dominated by Computer Science, examples of high-quality research in AI exists in each discipline, and from disciplines in pairs - though rarely more. This project gives Queen Mary the chance to lead the debate.
How did the team come together?
Mark already had a special type of research grant, on the topic of “Artifical Neuroscience”, with Boris. What is special is that it provides EPSRC funding to “Discipline Hop”. An AI web search for ‘top neuroscientist at Queen Mary’ led Mark to contact Andrea and Abhi, and the team came together, adding in Costis, for an unsuccessful Leverhulme funding opportunity. The opportunity to bid for internal, team-building funds was too good to miss!
How did you decide on this question/topic?
Work towards this research grant showed how broad the study of AI could be, in particular how crucial – and overlooked – the contribution of neuroscience is. Conversations between the team found that this is a strongly 2-way process, and that the neuroscientists are using machine learning and AI tools to make sense of large datasets that they collect every day to understand how the brain works. As well as machine learning, maths, physics and neuroscience coming together, colleagues from humanities will be invited to bring their perspectives on the impact of AI in the cultural sector. Workshopping together, colleagues will share different perspectives across disciplines in which, too often, different terms have the same meaning and similar words means different things!
What activities will you undertake as part of this project?
Three symposia on the intersections between the disciplines each followed by a writing retreat to brainstorm and co-create major grant proposals. The symposia will invite short talks from colleagues from different schools, showcasing QM research in Artificial Intelligence and followed by a broader discussion. The workshops will allow people to make space physically and intellectually to get together in small groups and discuss. These activities will provide opportunities for a diverse group of people to become involved in the consortium, spanning both career stage and discipline.