Strong attendance and engaging discussions at this year’s Mathematics Alumni Event on AI

On 7 November, the Department of Mathematics hosted its second alumni event, once again focusing on artificial intelligence. Interest was high even before the event, with 170 registrations, leaving some on the waiting list. By starting and ending the programme in the Siegbahn Hall and due to a few no-shows, everyone who arrived was eventually accommodated.

The event featured a full programme of talks by researchers and alumni, followed by a lively panel discussion that engaged both the panelists and the audience. Among the attendees were approximately 60 alumni working in various industries, 20 students, and around 40 researchers and staff from mathematics, IT, and physics.

The talks covered the mathematical foundations of AI, its practical applications, and interdisciplinary opportunities. Several speakers emphasised the message that AI is not intelligent. Måns Thulin, an AI consultant, referred to it as nothing more than "overfitted regression models." During the final panel discussion, there were different views both within the panel and among the audience on whether AI can or will ever display something akin to intelligence.

Participant feedback

With an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 in the post-event survey, completed by more than a third of attendees, we are delighted to see that the event was well received.

It is, of course, impossible to cover all aspects of AI in an afternoon, and despite a shared background in mathematics, there is a wide range of knowledge about AI among participants. Suggestions and requests included hearing from the Faculty of Law and the Department of Government on AI-related issues, diving deeper into the subject with more technical content, and showcasing positive examples of the exciting developments AI enables and what lies ahead. As one participant noted: "Now that we know that we will not be eradicated by AI, it would be interesting to hear about domains that are well suited to be made more effective by the current state of AI, as well as near misses, i.e., areas that would seem to benefit, but do not."

Joachim Kaihola, leader in banking and finance:
"It was great to reconnect with former and new acquaintances and to see the Ångström Laboratory and the environment where the Department of Mathematics operates today. In banking and finance, we have been working with AI and automation for a long time. Credit risk assessment and fraud prevention through machine learning are key examples of current applications. AI is a major focus area, and substantial investments will continue for years to come."

Anna Knutson Savelid, secondary school teacher from Kalix:
"Since I live 1,000 km away, the date was perfect – just before Hjärndagen in Stockholm. This event truly filled my heart with joy! I left feeling inspired; this is such an important topic, and as a teacher, I must engage with it. As a teacher of both mathematics and psychology, I believe we need to bring AI into the classroom from multiple perspectives. I will be taking an AI course in the spring and look forward to spreading knowledge and sparking discussions with my students."

Jie Wang, master’s student in mathematics:
"It was fascinating to see the diverse attitudes towards AI among participants – from those who use it daily to those more cautious. The discussions were both thought-provoking and inspiring. I am one of those who actively use AI, both in my studies and daily life. From my current experience, I find many positive aspects of AI, and I am personally very interested in this field. I am currently taking the course "Computer Intensive Statistics and Applications" and am particularly interested in AI applications in data science, predictive modeling, neural networks, and beyond."

Looking ahead

The positive feedback and valuable insights we received have inspired us to develop the concept further. The theme for next year's alumni event has not yet been decided, but we can promise that it will be something other than AI and that we will choose from one or more of the suggestions we have received.

Many of this year’s participants expressed interest in attending more AI-focused events organised by Uppsala University in the coming year. To build on this need and the interest many have in AI, we are exploring the possibility of organizing a joint event together with other departments. Preferably a full-day event so we can incorporate both breadth and depth. This would be in addition to our own alumni event.

A big thank you to everyone who joined this year’s event – we look forward to welcoming you and our broader alumni community back next autumn for another day of inspiration, learning, and connection!

Joachim, Anna, Jie, Richard and Felicia were the winners of a book on AI among those who responded to our evaluation.