What happens to science when algorithms don’t just assist discovery - but actively shape it?
Join us for a thought-provoking panel exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming the foundations of scientific inquiry. The event will open with a keynote talk by Professor Mullainathan, “Science in the Age of Algorithms,” setting the stage for a wide-ranging discussion on how machine learning and data-driven methods are redefining how knowledge is generated, tested, and understood.
From economics to medicine, chemistry to education, algorithmic tools are rapidly changing the way researchers approach complex problems. But with these advances come deeper questions: Are predictions enough, or do we still need explanations? Can machines uncover truths that human intuition misses? And what becomes of theory in a world increasingly driven by data?
Participants:
Sendhil Mullainathan, Peter de Florez Professor of Economics & Computer Science, MIT (and Sanjaya Lall Visiting Professor, Oxford)
Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Principal of Jesus College and Professor of Computer Science, Oxford
Dr Raia Hadsell, VP of Research, Google DeepMind
Chair: Professor Johannes Abeler, Professor & Head of Economics Department, Oxford
This panel will explore:
How algorithms are reshaping scientific discovery and theory-building
The evolving relationship between prediction, explanation, and understanding
Whether AI reduces—or reinforces—the need for human-generated theories
How machine learning can detect patterns and anomalies beyond human perception
The opportunities and risks of deploying algorithms across diverse fields, including economics, healthcare, chemistry, education, and the social sciences
Designed for researchers, practitioners, students, and anyone curious about the future of knowledge, this event offers a unique opportunity to engage with one of the most important shifts in modern science.
Come ready to question assumptions, challenge boundaries, and rethink what it means to “do science” in the age of algorithms.
