The Inaugural Manchester Turing Lecture: Prof Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi

Digital Futures is proud to present the Inaugural Manchester Turing Lecture, a distinguished new lecture series that brings internationally renowned leaders in research, innovation and technology to Manchester.

We are honoured to welcome Prof Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi CBE FRS FREng, one of the world's leading engineers, academic leaders and entrepreneurs. Sir Bashir serves as Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives) at King's College London and is internationally recognised for his pioneering contributions to computer engineering, energy-efficient computing and technological innovation. His research has influenced technologies embedded in billions of digital devices worldwide.

Talk Title: Rethinking Research: The Role of Humans in Scientific Discovery in the Age of LLMs*

Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) are rapidly reshaping the landscape of scientific discovery. These technologies highlight the significant potential of AI to enhance human scientific capabilities and accelerate research. At the same time, they signal a profound shift in how research is conceived, conducted, and communicated, as well as how doctoral students and researchers are supervised and intellectually developed. This transformation calls for a critical re-examination of the human role in research.

The relationship between humans and AI, and their combined biological and artificial intelligence, must be grounded in mutual critique, trust, and collaboration. Researchers should rigorously evaluate AI-generated outputs using their own expertise and judgment, while also leveraging LLMs to test, challenge, and refine arguments and hypotheses through critical thinking. Such reciprocal co-creation ensures that AI functions as an augmentative partner rather than a replacement in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. It also points toward a shift from a traditional two-way relationship to a three-way partnership involving students, supervisors, and LLMs.

Rather than offering definitive conclusions, this talk seeks to stimulate dialogue, question assumptions, and inspire new forms of collective thinking about the future of scientific research and doctoral training in an AI-driven world.
*This presentation was prepared by human, augmented by LLMs

The Manchester Turing Lecture aims to inspire dialogue across disciplines and sectors by showcasing exceptional thinkers whose work is shaping the future of society. In this inaugural lecture, Sir Bashir will offer insights drawn from a distinguished career spanning world-leading research, academic leadership, industry collaboration and national policy.

This special event provides a unique opportunity for researchers, students, industry professionals, policymakers and members of the wider community to engage with one of the UK's most influential voices in engineering and innovation.

Join us for an afternoon of insight, inspiration and discussion as we launch a new tradition of intellectual excellence at The University of Manchester.

About Digital Futures:

Digital Futures is a highly interdisciplinary network that operates across the whole range of the University’s digital research. We aim to present a coherent overview of The University of Manchester's digital research activity to external stakeholders and bring together research communities to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities.

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