AI isn’t just writing emails and generating cat pictures—it’s reshaping our world at an astonishing pace. From ChatGPT to Gemini, today’s AI models talk like us, think like us… and may soon outthink us. But how do these strange new minds actually work? And what happens when they start making choices for us?

Neuroscientist and AI expert Christopher Summerfield pulls back the curtain on the machines we’ve built – exploring whether AI truly understands us, who it really serves, and where this wild ride is heading. Will AI supercharge innovation or strip us of control? Will it help us fight climate change or drain the planet’s energy? And most importantly – how do we make sure it works for us, not against us?

Led by award-winning journalist Edie Lush, join us at The Conduit for a conversation about power, intelligence, and the mysterious digital minds already shaping our future.

Event Schedule

6:00pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

A cash bar will be available for refreshments.

6:15pm: Event begins

7:30pm: Event ends

Speakers:

Christopher Summerfield has one foot in the field neuroscience – studying the brains of humans, as Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford – and the other in AI research, as Research Director at the UK AI Safety Institute. Previously, he built intelligent systems at the pioneering Google DeepMind. He has won several awards, including the prestigious Cognitive Neuroscience Society Young Investigator Award in 2015. He is regularly invited to give keynote talks across the world. Christopher has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters and his academic book, Natural General Intelligence: How Understanding the Brain Can Help Us Build AI, was widely acclaimed. This is his first book for a general readership.

Edie Lush is an award-winning journalist, an events MC and a communication trainer. She hosts events around the world — from the World Economic Forum in Davos to the COP Climate Summits. She has hosted several podcasts including Global GoalsCast, made in collaboration with the United Nations. She has been the Economics and Political correspondent for Bloomberg Television, a columnist at The Week magazine and the Associate Editor of Spectator Business magazine. Her work has appeared in many publications including Prospect, the Spectator and the BBC. She runs her own business providing senior Leaders, Influencers, Academics and Executives with Communication training — focusing now on increasing impact in both online and in person appearances.