Strong interest and engaging discussions at the Department of Mathematics Alumni Event on AI

This year’s theme, artificial intelligence (AI), attracted over 120 participants—alumni, students, and researchers—for a day filled with insightful lectures, engaging discussions, and meaningful encounters. Among the attendees were approximately 60 alumni working in various sectors, 20 students, and around 40 researchers and faculty members from mathematics, IT, and physics.

Lectures and panel discussions captivate the audience

The event featured a packed programme of lectures by researchers and alumni, culminating in a panel discussion where both the panel and the audience contributed questions and perspectives. The lectures explored AI from multiple angles—the mathematical foundations, real-world applications, and interdisciplinary opportunities.

Several speakers emphasised that AI is not "intelligent." One of them, Måns Thulin, a consultant in AI, remarked that it is nothing more than "overfitted regression models." During the closing panel discussion, diverse opinions emerged, both among the panellists and the audience, about whether AI can—or will ever—demonstrate intelligence or something akin to it.

Appreciation and feedback from participants

With an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 in the evaluation survey, the event was well-received by participants. Feedback included requests for broader perspectives from other fields, such as law and political science, as well as more examples of successful AI applications across various sectors.

Participant Testimonials

Joachim Kaihola, a leader in banking and finance:
"It was great to meet old 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, and significant investments in further AI applications will continue for many years to come."

Anna Knutson Savelid, a secondary school teacher from Kalix:
"This event truly filled me with joy! I felt so inspired—this is important and something I, as a teacher, need to delve into. I will be taking an AI course next semester and look forward to spreading knowledge and sparking discussions among my students."

Jie Wang, a master’s student in mathematics:
"The discussions were both thought-provoking and inspiring. I am one of those who actively use AI, both in my studies and in my daily life. My current experience shows that there are many positive aspects of AI, and I am personally very interested in this field. I am currently studying 'Computer Intensive Statistics and Applications' and am particularly interested in AI applications in computer science, predictive modelling, neural networks, and more."

Inspiration for future alumni events

Georgios Dimitroglou Rizell, Head of the Department of Mathematics, strongly encourages other departments to organise alumni events:

"It is a fantastic opportunity to both maintain existing and create new valuable connections while building something long-lasting. Face-to-face meetings provide a unique chance to show interest in what alumni want from us, while also sharing the latest research and drawing inspiration from their experiences," says Georgios.

Marie Chajara Svensson, the department’s communications officer and organiser of the alumni event, highlights the importance of giving back to alumni:
"The Department of Mathematics has been hosting an annual career day for students for several years, where around ten alumni share insights about their careers. By organising alumni events, we show appreciation for our former students while strengthening our ability to meet the needs of current students. Good relationships with alumni, for example, create opportunities for external degree projects, which we are keen to encourage more students to pursue."

The positive feedback from this year’s event provides inspiration to further develop the concept. Georgios adds:

"We have not yet decided on a theme for next year’s event. There are many exciting areas of technological development with strong ties to mathematics. While AI plays a role in almost everything nowadays, next year’s event will focus on something other than AI."

At the same time, the possibility of organising a joint AI-themed event with other departments is being explored, as many of this year’s participants expressed interest in additional AI-focused events—something likely to attract other alumni from the Faculty of Science and Technology as well.