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From the Big Bang to AI

Posted on Oct 12, 2023 in AI, Machine Learning, Outreach, Public lecture, universe

I’m delighted to have been invited to talk about AI in cosmology by the prestigious Accademia dei XL, an Italian learnt society. The talk (in Italian) has been delivered online – spanning some of the history of astronomy as well as AI, it explains how and why machine learning will be crucial to enable us […]

An Impossible Dialogue

Posted on Aug 29, 2023 in AI, Art and Science, Creative writing, News, Outreach
An Impossible Dialogue

I am delighted to be involved as scientific consultant in a new play by and with actress and author Diana Höbel. Diana approached me with the idea of creating an “impossible dialogue” between Alma Mahler, a fascinating character and talented musician, and her husband, Gustav Mahler, with whom she had a stormy and ill-fated relationship. […]

From Big Bang to ChatGPT: Astronomy, Data and Society

Posted on Jul 8, 2023 in AI, Outreach, universe
From Big Bang to ChatGPT: Astronomy, Data and Society

It was very special to return to Oxford after so long: meeting so many fascinating academics, students and alumni working in many different fields and walks of life reminded me of how incredibly stimulating the place always is. The opportunity was an invitation to speak Hertford College Festival, in conversation with Physics Fellow and astronomer […]

In conversation with Melanie Mitchell

Posted on May 2, 2023 in AI, Outreach

As part of the activities of the Premio Cosmos 2023, for which I am a member of the jury, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing computer scientist, Santa Fe Institute professor and author Melanie Mitchell, on the topic of her book, Artificial Intelligence: A guide for thinking humans, published in Italy last year and among […]

LIBRA – a play on satellite mega-constellations

Posted on Apr 3, 2023 in Art and Science, Outreach, universe
LIBRA – a play on satellite mega-constellations

At the end of September 2022, I’ve had the pleasure to visit Reggio Calabria, at the far South-Western tip of Italy, where the theatre play I co-wrote opened the Cosmos Festival 2022. LIBRA – The Play It is 2042, and a global corporation has taken over the market of satellite-based internet ads. The sky is […]

The need for humanities in an AI-dominated future

Posted on Nov 11, 2022 in AI, Environment, Outreach, Science

I was delighted to return to Imperial’s Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication in early Nov to deliver the 2022 Char Brinson honorary lecture on my view regarding the future of AI and the place of humans (and humanities) in it. Here’s a short summary of the main points I raised. When we hear the […]

The Future of Life on Earth

The Future of Life on Earth

My final lecture as Visiting Professor of Cosmology at Gresham college looks at the threats to life on Earth,  with a reflection straddling cosmology, astrophysics, history and environmental issues. I argue that what we need to worry about are not the dangers that are out there, but the ones that are in here – inside […]

The Love Makers

The Love Makers

How artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming the future of love and desire: a philosophical thriller and essays. I’m thrilled that this wonderful book by Aifric Campbell, including fiction and non-fiction writing, has been published by MIT press. A chance encounter between two women and a road trip into the future: It’s Christmas Eve, and […]

The Broken Cosmic Distance Ladder

Posted on Mar 7, 2022 in Gresham College, Outreach, Public lecture, universe

When Albert Einstein tweaked his newl Measuring distances to astronomical objects outside our Galaxy is a surprisingly hard challenge: it wasn’t until 1923 that Edwin Hubble obtained proof that Andromeda is indeed a galaxy in its own right. Today, astronomers extend distance measurements in the cosmos to the edge of the visible Universe, building up […]