Where Mind Meets Machine

The brain boasts unrivalled energy efficiency and processing abilities. Neuromorphic computing aims to build computers to match! It holds the potential to revolutionise computational neuroscience, accelerating simulation of neuronal networks, replicating brain dynamics and expanding our understanding of the functions and pathologies of the brain. Recent rapid advances in AI have placed a high energy demand burden on the sector - could energy-efficient neuromorphic systems hold the solution? Come and learn how brain-inspired computing is developing the next generation of intelligent systems!

People are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for emotional support in everyday life - when they feel angry, sad, or anxious. But what actually makes these AI responses feel helpful? And what can they teach us about how humans comfort one another? I'll present our research exploring how large language models like ChatGPT offer emotional support, how similar this is to a human approach, and - crucially - whether reassurance from AI has the same effect on people's feeling as that from another human. Can we rely on AI to make us feel better?

Looking at the growing intersection between modern technologies and how people make decisions, form beliefs and determine trustworthiness and accuracy, we can see how the likes of AI and social media algorithms impact the spread of information and misinformation. With the rise of “fake news” and the increasingly interconnected modern era, misleading, misrepresented, or outright false information spreads rapidly throughout digital and physical circles, with sometimes dire consequences. Why is some information more likely to spread than others, and how can you be aware of this in your own life?