Invited Talk by David Bessis

“If AI does the Science, what is left for us?“

“AI cracks mathematical conjecture“ / “LLMs produce PhD-level research“ / “The top physicists have already surrendered to AI superiority.“

Messages like these are flooding the internet, newspapers, and the hallways of our universities. The capabilities of AI are improving every quarter, with no end in sight.

Is it the end of human science? What's the point of doing a PhD if all research is going to be automated? Should I even bother to learn anything?

In this conversation with David Bessis, we will discuss the ongoing transformation of science and education, the continuing need for human understanding, and the new opportunities for human scientists.

Followed by a panel discussion on the topic: “How does AI change research practice?“

When: Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Where: Campus | Building E1 5 (Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS)) | Room 0.02

The talk and panel discussion will be held in English.

About David Bessis:

Mathematician, tech founder and author David Bessis received his PhD in pure mathematics from the University Paris-Cité. He has conducted research in algebra, geometry and topology at Yale University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and École Normale Supérieure (ENS). After founding and exiting an AI startup, he recently authored Mathematica, a Secret World of Intuition and Curiosity. Bessis' writing focuses on the human experience of mathematical understanding and discovery.