Mathematics & Theory
Academic Area
The formal foundations of intelligence, learning, and complexity.
Thinking About Thinking Inc. supports interdisciplinary inquiry into mathematics, information theory, and the theoretical foundations that underlie intelligent systems.
This focus area brings together researchers and practitioners working across applied mathematics, statistics, information theory, optimization, theoretical computer science, signal processing, and related fields. We are interested in the formal structures that shape how systems learn, represent information, generalize, and fail.
Our emphasis is on clarity, abstraction, and limits, understanding not just how systems work, but what is in principle possible, what is provably impossible, and where current theories break down
Core Questions We Explore
How does embodiment change the nature of intelligence and learning?
What role do physical constraints play in shaping behaviour and adaptation?
How should perception, control, and decision-making be integrated in autonomous systems?
How do robots learn from interaction with dynamic, uncertain environments?
Where do current robotic systems fall short of biological intelligence, and why?
What makes human–robot interaction safe, intuitive, and trustworthy?
Upcoming Events
CONFERENCES
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are core themes across our flagship events.
At our AE Global Summits, we convene researchers, builders, and policymakers to examine Open Problems in AI research, infrastructure, applications, and governance.
At our Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI we explore the deeper mathematical and computational foundations of learning and intelligence, often in dialogue with neuroscience and cognitive science.
AE Global Summit
Artificial Intelligence, Startup and the future of Society
November 2026
London, United Kingdom
neuroMonster
Neuroscience, Machine Learning, and the Mathematics of Intelligence
June 2026
Rome, Italy
Recordings - Coming Soon
We publish recordings of talks, panels, and seminars to make serious thinking about artificial intelligence and machine learning accessible beyond the conference hall.
ThAT Ambassador Programme
The Thinking About Thinking Ambassador Programme is an open, application-based pathway for students and early stage career researchers who want to take part in serious, interdisciplinary conversations about intelligence.
Ambassadors support Thinking About Thinking’s conferences, workshops, and community initiatives, helping to extend thoughtful dialogue across universities, disciplines, and countries. The programme is designed for people who care deeply about ideas, collaboration, and building intellectual communities.
Outstanding Ambassadors who demonstrate sustained contribution, leadership, and intellectual engagement may be invited into the Thinking About Thinking Fellowship, a private, invitation-only programme for long-term contributors.
