Computers Don't Byte

Jul 01 2024 10 ep. 15 mins 4

Computers Don't Byte Podcast artwork

Computer scientists who are at the forefront of their respected fields attempt to explain what on earth they're doing.

Computers don't byte is a series by the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS). Leading computer scientists from a variety of fields share their expertise and insights. Dive into the minds of these researchers and learn about real-world applications, the future of AI and related technologies and cutting-edge research. From chatbots to cybersecurity, from quantum to children's stories, each episode offers its own perspective on the changing landscape of computer science. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring enthusiast, this podcast offers knowledge and inspiration.

Content: LIACS

Host: Michiel van Poelgeest

Produced by: Studio Onzichtbaar

Technology Science

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Introducing: Computers Don't Byte

Mar 03 2024 2 mins

Leading computer scientists from a variety of fields share their expertise and insights. Dive into the minds of these researchers and learn about real-world applications, the future of AI and related technologies and cutting-edge research. From chatbots to cybersecurity, from quantum to children's stories, each episode offers its own perspective on the changing landscape of compute

Suzan Verberne: the future of chatbots is human

Mar 11 2024 15 mins

Professor Suzan Verberne talks about her research on search engines and chatbots. She explains the difference between search engines such as Google, and large language models like ChatGPT. Furthermore, contrary to what many people think, Dutch as a language is much 'bigger' than you might expect. As a country we produce vast amounts of text. But will this help LLMs to adapt to loca

Max van Duijn: using language as a window on the mind

Apr 08 2024 18 mins

Assistant professor Max van Duijn combines cognitive science with Artificial Intelligence (AI). His research is on children’s stories and the question if they have a so-called Theory of Mind. This is the ability to understand the mental state of somebody else and use this information to explain and predict human behavior. But here's the twist: Max's research not only applies to t

Niki van Stein: can explainable AI save lives?

Mar 25 2024 14 mins

Niki van Stein is assistant professor at LIACS. Her research focuses on explainable artificial intelligence (AI), with a specific focus on the maritime sector. At a time when modern marine vessels are evolving into complex supercomputers on water, AI plays a crucial role in efficiently managing maintenance tasks.However, the key to success lies in the ability of these AI systems to

Joost Batenburg: detecting fingerprints with tomography (digital archaeology)

Apr 22 2024 14 mins

Enter the realm of tomography, the work field of 'digital archaeologist' Professor Joost Batenburg. Tomography is a technique to peer into objects without taking them apart, akin to the familiar CT scan. Two-dimensional images are converted into three-dimensional images using algorithms. Now Professor Batenburg has created a portable device that goes around objects, capturing their

Rob van Nieuwpoort: Efficient computing, a journey starting with a Commodore 64

May 05 2024 17 mins

Rob van Nieuwpoort is Professor of Efficient Computing and eScience at LIACS. His research focuses mainly on augmenting the efficiency of software and applications. But it also tackles the challenges posed by large-scale simulations housed within data centers. In this era where the demand for storage capacity skyrockets, reaching a point where accommodating all data becomes impossi

Tessa Verhoef: Robots, a way to better understand humans

May 19 2024 18 mins

Assistant Professor Tessa Verhoef has a passion for robotics and is dedicated to improving the human-likeness of robots, for instance by looking into their use of language.Her journey began with Kismet, a robot designed to convey emotions and engage in human-like interactions. While her expertise involves AI and robotics, she also delves into language evolution, exploring how langu

Jan van Rijn: Robustness, unveiling the black box of AI

Jun 03 2024 16 mins

Assistant Professor Jan van Rijn is at the forefront of research into the trustworthiness of AI systems. His work focuses on the field of machine learning, with a particular emphasis on exploring and enhancing the robustness of AI systems. Robustness is a critical component in building trustworthy machines, such as self-driving cars, where reliable performance is paramount.Jan and

Hazel Doughty: Video Understanding, a step towards the real world

Jun 17 2024 18 mins

Assistant Professor Hazel Doughty specializes in computer vision, aiming to enable computers to automatically understand visual content. Her research focuses on video understanding, where thousands of videos with text descriptions are fed to the computer. Her project, "From What to How," seeks to advance computers from identifying actions to understanding how they are performed, th

Vedran Dunjko: Next level computing, exploring the world of quantum

Jul 01 2024 22 mins

Professor Vedran Dunjko leads the Applied Quantum Algorithms group at Leiden University. His research focuses on quantum computing, which uses quantum effects to greatly improve computation. This could lead to much more powerful computers. Developing a working quantum computer is an ongoing effort, bringing both exciting possibilities and potential security risks because of its sup