Frequently asked questions.
Short answers about who we are, what we run and how to take part.
What is Thinking About Thinking?
Thinking About Thinking is an independent nonprofit founded in 2020. It works on intelligence across disciplines: biological, artificial and collective. It runs conferences and scientific meetings, seminar programmes, an ambassador programme and a fellowship. Its motto is "Spreading ideas about intelligence".
Who founded Thinking About Thinking?
Dr Ruairidh Battleday and Professor James Whittington, who are both Directors of Thinking About Thinking. Dr Battleday is a cognitive scientist and AI researcher with a PhD in Computer Science from Princeton University. Professor Whittington is a computational neuroscientist and a Principal Investigator in the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. Clare Maguire is Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder.
Where is Thinking About Thinking based?
Thinking About Thinking, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity registered in New Jersey, with offices in Princeton. Its postal address is 28 Spring Street, Unit 156, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA. Its two main events are held in London and Rome, and its fellows and ambassadors are in more than 200 cities.
What events does Thinking About Thinking run?
Two main events. The AE Global Summit is the Annual Meeting: three days in London on Open Problems for AI. The International Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (neuroMONSTER) is a peer-reviewed scientific conference on the foundations of intelligence. There are also online Seminar Groups and smaller local events through the year: evening salons, partner panels and venture cafés.
What is the AE Global Summit?
The Algorithmic Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AE) Global Summit is Thinking About Thinking's annual international conference on Open Problems for AI in research, startups and applications. The 2026 Summit runs for three days at Friends House, London, from 25 to 27 November 2026. Its official website is algopreneurship.org. Past editions were held in London, Tokyo, Boston and Mountain View.
What is the International Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI?
It is Thinking About Thinking's annual research conference, also known as neuroMONSTER, on how intelligence is represented and learned in brains and machines. Talks are chosen from open submissions by peer review. The seventh edition was held at Villa Wolkonsky, Rome, on 9 to 12 June 2026. Earlier editions were in Split (2025), Rome (2024), Rhodes (2023) and Crete (2022). Dates for the next edition are announced on neuromonster.org.
How do I join the Fellowship?
You join in two steps. First, apply to the Ambassador Programme, a year-long, contribution-based role for students and early-career researchers. Applications are open on a rolling basis. Ambassadors who contribute consistently are considered for the Fellowship, which is by invitation only.
What are the Seminar Groups?
Regular online research seminars on the sciences of intelligence, run in small sessions between conferences. Researchers, students and practitioners present work in progress, work through open problems and get detailed feedback. Sessions are listed on Luma.
How can my university or organisation partner with Thinking About Thinking?
Partnerships are with universities, research groups, learned societies and public-interest organisations. They can be co-hosted events, shared seminar access, ambassador chapters at partner institutions or joint writing projects. Email battleday@thinkingaboutthinking.org or clare@thinkingaboutthinking.org with a short note on your institution, what you would like to do and when.
How can a company sponsor Thinking About Thinking?
Sponsorship is by application and covers the conferences, workshops and the Fellowship. The forms are Programme Partner, Conference Sponsor and Workshop Sponsor. Thinking About Thinking keeps control of the programme and the editorial. Email battleday@thinkingaboutthinking.org or clare@thinkingaboutthinking.org.
Can I donate?
Yes. Donations pay for the seminars, conferences, recordings and the Fellowship. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by US law.
Where can I watch talks from past events?
Talks, panels and seminar sessions recorded at the events are free to watch on the Recordings page and on the Thought Channel YouTube channel.
What is DiG and the Discovery Community?
DiG (Discovery in Games) and DIG.bench measure whether humans and frontier AI systems can work out an unknown rule through experimentation. Thinking About Thinking is a Founding Community Partner of DisCo, the Discovery Community.
Anything else? Email clare@thinkingaboutthinking.org.