Name: From Artificial Minds to Smart Materials
Start: 2026-05-18T19:00:00
End: 2026-05-18T21:30:00
Location: The Drapers Lounge

AI might seem like it understands us, but is it really thinking, or just very good at guessing? And plastic? It’s not just for bottles anymore, it could help generate electricity from everyday movement.

Join us for a night that challenges what “smart” really means, from algorithms that predict our words to materials that could power our future. Expect mind-bending ideas and a fresh look at the intelligence hiding in both code and everyday objects.

Why AI is smart – But not in the way you think.

Dr. Ziquan Liu (Lecturer at the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science)

AI can write essays, answer questions, and hold conversations. But does it really think like we do? This talk explores how modern AI acts as a powerful pattern recogniser, predicting what comes next rather than truly understanding. By contrasting this with how humans handle uncertainty, form beliefs, and interpret the world, I’ll show why this difference matters, especially as AI is used in areas like education, healthcare, and decision-making.

Can a Plastic Bottle Conduct Electricity?

Qianyi Li (PhD Candidate in Material Science)

Plastics are usually known as insulators, but under certain conditions they can conduct electricity. In this talk, I will introduce some fascinating dielectric materials, explain the underlying mechanisms that enable conductivity in these systems, and share insights into the research our group is currently working on in this area.

[{"lat":51.5229928,"lon":-0.0424826,"title":"The Drapers Lounge","html":"<div class=\"location-tooltip\">\n    <h6>Events at The Drapers Lounge<\/h6>\n\n    <address class=\"mb-1\">15 Bancroft Rd, Bethnal Green, (Google maps: search &quot;QMotion&quot; what3words\/\/\/pretty.levels.quarrel), London, E1 4FZ<\/address>\n\n    <div class=\"mb-3\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?daddr=15+Bancroft+Rd%2C+Bethnal+Green%2C+%28Google+maps%3A+search+%22QMotion%22+what3words%2F%2F%2Fpretty.levels.quarrel%29%2C+London%2C+E1+4FZ\" target=\"_blank\">\n            Get directions <i class=\"fa fa-external-link\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <ul class=\"lt-events\">\n        \n        <li>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/pintofscience.co.uk\/event\/from-artificial-minds-to-smart-materials\">\n                <span class=\"lt-event-name\">From Artificial Minds to Smart Materials<\/span>\n                <span class=\"lt-event-date\">(18 May 2026)<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/li>\n        \n        <li>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/pintofscience.co.uk\/event\/smart-ish-why-ai-still-needs-a-pint-of-common-sense\">\n                <span class=\"lt-event-name\">Smart-ish: Why AI Still Needs a Pint of Common Sense<\/span>\n                <span class=\"lt-event-date\">(19 May 2026)<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/li>\n        \n        <li>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/pintofscience.co.uk\/event\/from-clinic-to-code\">\n                <span class=\"lt-event-name\">Trust Me, I\u2019m an Algorithm: AI in Healthcare<\/span>\n                <span class=\"lt-event-date\">(20 May 2026)<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/li>\n        \n    <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","zoom":15,"icon":"https:\/\/pintofscience.co.uk\/assets\/Topics\/tech-map__ScaleWidthWzMwXQ.png"}]

Other London events

Other The Drapers Lounge events

19 May

London

Smart-ish: Why AI Still Needs a Pint of Common Sen…

Image for day 2 Tuesday freen no cp from ST adobe stock

20 May

London

Trust Me, I’m an Algorithm: AI in Healthcare

Image for day 3 Wednesday free no cp from ST adobe stock