THESE STRANGE NEW MINDS: How AI Learned to Talk and What it Means

Can AI systems think, know, and understand?

Could they manipulate or deceive you, and if so, what might they make you do?

Whose interests do they represent?

When will they be able to move beyond words and take action in the real world?


Join Neuroscientist and AI researcher Christopher Summerfield as he explores these questions, charting AI's evolution from early ideas in the seventeenth century to today's deep neural networks. His latest book, These Strange New Minds, is the most accessible, up-to-date, and authoritative exploration of this radical technology. With an understanding of AI's inner workings, we can address the existential question of our age: can we look forward to a technological utopia, or are we writing ourselves out of history?

Christopher Summerfield has one foot in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience – studying the brains of humans as Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford – and the other in AI research, helping build intelligent systems as a Staff Research Scientist at the pioneering Google DeepMind. He has won several awards, including the prestigious Cognitive Neuroscience Society Young Investigator Award in 2015.

Chris will also be signing copies of his new book, These Starnge New Minds, which will be available to purchase on the night. This event takes place upstairs in the Nightingale Room, The Grand Central Pub, Brighton. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access at this venue.

• DOORS OPEN: 7:00pm
• TALK STARTS: 7:30pm
• AUDIENCE Q&A: 8:30pm
• BOOK SIGNING: 9:00pm

Thinking of coming with friends? Why not add to your special night out and enjoy the show in the comfort of a private booth (seats 5). See the 'BOOK A BOOTH' option in the ticket section.

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Host or Publisher Brighton Skeptics in the Pub