AI and the Brain

Join the British Neuroscience Association for an exciting in-person event where we dive into the world of artificial intelligence and how it connects with the human brain.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from leading voices and take insights back into your own work - leaving you better equipped and more confident to engage in conversations at the intersection of neuroscience and AI.
Hear from ten outstanding speakers as well as the live debate: “Information is all you need?” Karl Friston (UCL) vs Christopher Summerfield (University of Oxford / AI Security Institute), moderated by Heidi Johansen-Berg (University of Oxford)
AI and the Brain is a full-day event bringing together world-leading neuroscientists, AI researchers, clinicians and policymakers to explore one of the most fast-moving areas in science today.
• Can AI predict dementia earlier?
• Can machines truly learn like the brain?
• What are the risks of neurotechnology?
Meeting fees:
Join the BNA today to benefit from significantly reduced registration.

Undergraduate/ Postgraduate student: £25/£45

Early Career Researcher: £45 (member)/ £85 (non-member)

Professional/Associate: £90 (member/ £120 (non-member)

Retired: £45 (member/ £80 (non-member)

All fees include VAT at 20%.

Lunch, tea, coffee, refreshments and a drinks reception, are all included in the ticket cost. Lunch is vegetarian by default. Please indicate any dietary requirements during the registration process.

Cancellation policy:
As per our terms and conditions, event tickets will only be refunded if cancelled within seven days of purchase. Please note all refunds are subject to a £10 administration charge.

Info: KEYNOTE SESSION

Info: Karl Friston vs. Christopher Summerfield, moderated by Heidi Johansen-Berg
Debaters and Position Statements

Professor Christopher Summerfield (University of Oxford / UK AI Safety Institute):
Biological systems are “scruffy,” learning through a mix of generative modelling, reward learning, and social feedback. Different behaviours rely on different blends of these processes. Understanding the world requires rich generative models; sensorimotor skills rely on reinforcement-style shortcut learning; and social interaction, including language, depends on nuanced feedback.

Professor Karl Friston (University College London):
All living systems can be described as self-evidencing: acting to maximise evidence (e.g., marginal likelihood or mutual information) for their generative models of the world. This scale-invariant principle can explain phenomena from basic life processes to sentience and sexual reproduction.

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Host or Publisher The British Neuroscience Association