Doughnut Jar: Conversations in AI

EP 012: AI Revolution: From Code to Creativity, Exploring the transformative shift in AI from top-down coding to bottom-up creativity.

A Conversation with Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford and author of 8 books

Welcome to Doughnut Jar: Conversations in AI, the weekly podcast where Donnovan Andrews, founder of Doughnut Jar; Global Consulting Principal, Artificial Intelligence with Ogilvy Consulting; and serial entrepreneur; will feature in-depth talks with prominent figures in AI from diverse sectors like academia, marketing, governance, and development.

In Episode 012, we're having a conversation with Marcus de Sautoy, a mathematician who's passionate about making numbers fun and accessible for everyone. As the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, he's not just a brilliant researcher, he's also a gifted communicator who brings complex concepts to life. Through his popular books, YouTube talks, and public lectures, he invites us to see the beauty and wonder of mathematics in unprecedented places, from the patterns of nature to the rhythms of music.

Marcus is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He is author of eight books including his most recent books The Creativity Code: how AI is learning to write, paint and think (Fourth Estate 2019), Thinking Better: the Art of the Shortcut (Fourth Estate 2021) and Around the World in 80 Games (Fourth Estate 2023). He is author of two plays including I is a Strange Loop (Faber 2021) which was performed at the Barbican in London in which he was also lead actor. He has presented numerous radio and TV series including a four part landmark TV series for the BBC called The Story of Maths. He works extensively with a range of arts organisations bringing science alive for the public from The Royal Opera House to the Glastonbury Festival. He received an OBE for services to science in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2016.

Join us as we delve into the ever-evolving world of AI, mathematics, and the creative process. In today's episode, we're joined by Marcus du Sautoy, as we explore the current state and capabilities of AI, from the transformative impact of machine learning to the emergence of genuine creativity within algorithms. Join us as we navigate through the AI heat wave and discuss the collaborative future of human-AI interaction, debunking myths, and envisioning a landscape where creativity and intelligence intertwine.

About: “Thinking Better: the Art of the Shortcut”

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