- This event has passed.
Mathematics/Computer Science: The Mathematics Behind AI with Dr Nicolas Pugeault from University of Glasgow
March 23 @ 12:45 - 13:30
In this Mathematics/Computer Science session, Dr Nicolas Pugeault, a leading academic from the School of Computing Science at University of Glasgow, will run an interactive talk for students on The Mathematics Behind AI.
Have you ever asked an AI a question—maybe to help with homework or explain a tricky idea? Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, or Gemini are all examples of Artificial Intelligence systems called Large Language Models (LLMs). You may even be using them every day without realising it. But what actually happens behind the scenes when you type in a question?
In this session, we’ll “open the AI box” and explore how these systems really work. Together, we’ll break down the main parts of an LLM and uncover the surprisingly simple mathematical ideas that power them. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of how computers understand language—and how they generate the answers you see on your screen.
Lecturer Profile: Dr Nicolas Pugeault
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.
Suitable for: Aged 16+ pre-university students studying, or with a possible interest in studying, Mathematics, Computer Science and related disciplines. Student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually are very welcome.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students may wish to consider the topic in advance and questions they have. Students can also think about questions about studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: