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Computer scientists who are at the forefront of their respected fields attempt to explain what on earth they're doing.
Computers don't byte is a series by the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS). Leading computer scientists from a variety of fields share their expertise and insights. Dive into the minds of these researchers and learn about real-world applications, the future of AI and related technologies and cutting-edge research. From chatbots to cybersecurity, from quantum to children's stories, each episode offers its own perspective on the changing landscape of computer science. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring enthusiast, this podcast offers knowledge and inspiration.
Content: LIACS
Host: Michiel van Poelgeest
Produced by: Studio Onzichtbaar
21 Episodes
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What’s the difference between a zebra and a zebrafish? Assistant professor Rita Pucci, who works at both LIACS and Naturalis, brings together biodiversity and computer science. She’s developing a model that can recognise unique skin patterns of individual animals within a herd: a breakthrough that could transform how wildlife is monitored.It could also reveal whether inbreeding is occurring—crucial information for species like zebras, where inbreeding can have devastating consequences. But before the model can reliably identify patterns in zebra coats, it first needs to learn how to generate patterns itself. And for that, it is trained on thousands of images of zebrafish.
How can data help speed skaters push past their limits? Associate Professor Arno Knobbe specializes in sports data science. His research dives deep into the tiny details that can decide the outcome of a race. How and where do speed skaters find tenths of seconds to beat their rivals? Arno's research helps olympic athletes study the 'corners' of the ice rink, where, as it turns out, every athlete needs a slightly different approach to glide through at top speed. And this isn’t just theory; his insights play a role at the 2026 Winter Olympics. By collecting specific training data for each individual skater, Knobbe and his team can build the ultimate training schedule — one that ensures an athlete peaks at exactly the right moment: race day. And the impact goes far beyond elite sports. Even older adults wearing a smartwatch can benefit from the same principles, using data to better understand their health and daily activity.
Associate Professor Joost Broekens and Assistant Professor Thomas Moerland explore the rapid rise of AI. Are we in the middle of a hype cycle, or is something truly transformative happening? And how do we keep these increasingly powerful systems safe? These questions—and more—drive this new CDB episode. AI brings huge advantages, but not without trade‑offs. Is today’s AI revolution comparable to the invention of the steam engine? Cultural evolution is accelerating as knowledge fuels more knowledge, while humans become the limiting factor. Yet AI still mirrors us, shaped by human ideas and behavior. And doesn't the Turing test feel a bit outdated now that distinguishing AI agents from humans is becoming harder than ever.
What if a childhood game could unlock the mysteries of quantum mechanics? In this episode, we sit down with Assistant Professor Evert van Nieuwenburg to explore how Tiq Taq Toe is revolutionizing the way we learn physics. Through interactive gameplay, this innovative tool makes abstract quantum concepts more intuitive and engaging.
Whether you're a science enthusiast or just curious about learning through play, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into a whole new way of thinking. Tune in and discover how simple moves can reveal the wonders of a complex universe.Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Can AI revolutionize elderly care? Professor Marco Spruit, an expert in translational data science, is developing Well-being AI—a smart pet robot that provides companionship while monitoring health through language markers. This technology could ease pressure on healthcare services by detecting early signs of decline and alerting caregivers.
Beyond professional care, these intelligent robots could also support informal caregivers. Imagine a situation where one partner begins to suffer from dementia—this technology would allow the other partner to remotely monitor their well-being, offering peace of mind and timely intervention. This way AI can be the key to a more sustainable and compassionate future for elderly care? Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
How can nature-inspired evolution help us create the perfect optical lens? Assistant Professor Anna Kononova explores this question in her research. High-tech industries, like computer chip manufacturers, require ultra-precise lenses to keep up with the demand for increasingly complex designs.
Anna uses evolutionary computing, a technique that mimics natural selection. Just as nature evolves the fittest species, computers generate and test many lens designs, keeping the best and refining them over generations. This approach helps create cutting-edge technology with incredible precision. Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Ever wondered how algorithms make sense of complex problems? In this episode, we dive deep into the art of designing algorithms with associate professor Mitra Baratchi. Exploring how computers process data, find connections, and deliver insights.
While algorithms can solve many challenges, there are limits to their accuracy. How can researchers identify these gaps and guide users toward the best solutions. How much should we rely on algorithms, and where does human expertise come in? Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
How and why do humans form relationships with AI? This question lies at the core of Assistant Professor Peter van der Putten’s research. While AI sparks fear—raising concerns about its impact on our place in the universe—it also fascinates us, offering glimpses into an unknown future.
But can we truly bond with AI? It’s one thing to feel attached to a humanoid robot or a robotic pet, but what about a simple wooden cube with a moving face? In his study Common Locus, Peter explored just that. The results might surprise you—and reveal more about human nature than you’d expect.
If you want to read more about the research project of Joost Mollen, Peter van der Putten, and Kate Darling: Bonding with a Couchsurfing Robot: The Impact of Common Locus on Human-Robot Bonding In-the-wild. ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction. 12, 1, Article 8, March 2023.
More information about Peter can be found here: https://liacs.leidenuniv.nl/~puttenpwhvander/ Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
In this episode, LIACS Assistant Professor Hao Wang shares insights into multi-criteria optimization and the concept of the Pareto optimum. Discover how these powerful techniques, often used in decision-making and problem-solving, can help you plan the perfect trip.
Whether you’re balancing cost, travel time, and comfort or choosing between destinations, learn how mathematical models can guide you toward the best possible choices. Tune in for a new episode that bridges research and real-life experiences.Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
The hay fever season lasts longer than it used to because of climate change. LIACS Assistant Professor Lu Cao explains how machine learning and AI can help to easier count pollen in the air. This improves the accuracy and efficiency of pollen monitoring, a critical tool for understanding seasonal allergies, air quality, and climate impact.
Discover how AI-driven technologies can improve the accuracy and efficiency of pollen monitoring, providing valuable insights for municipal governments. With better data, policymakers can adjust their strategies on public green spaces, balancing ecological benefits with the needs of residents affected by allergies. Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Can robots feel joy or guilt? Can they have emotions at all? Today, we dive into the fascinating world of "affective" computing with Associate Professor Joost Broekens, a leading expert in the field. But what exactly is affective computing?We also tackle the ethical challenges of AI-emotion interaction, exploring topics like the European AI Act, which bans emotion recognition in education and the workplace. Are these new technologies transforming artificial intelligence into emotional intelligence?Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Professor Vedran Dunjko leads the Applied Quantum Algorithms group at Leiden University. His research focuses on quantum computing, which uses quantum effects to greatly improve computation. This could lead to much more powerful computers. Developing a working quantum computer is an ongoing effort, bringing both exciting possibilities and potential security risks because of its superior computing abilities.Much of what a quantum computer can achieve remains a mystery, even to experts like Dunjko. Essentially, the quantum computer is a solution in search of a problem. Nonetheless, Dunjko is confident in its potential applications, particularly in the field of quantum physics. Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Assistant Professor Hazel Doughty specializes in computer vision, aiming to enable computers to automatically understand visual content. Her research focuses on video understanding, where thousands of videos with text descriptions are fed to the computer. Her project, "From What to How," seeks to advance computers from identifying actions to understanding how they are performed, though this is currently limited by insufficient data.
Ultimately, her goal is for computers to independently analyze videos and comprehend methods used in various tasks. This would allow for the creation of assistive videos for activities like for instance proper CPR techniques.
Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Assistant Professor Jan van Rijn is at the forefront of research into the trustworthiness of AI systems. His work focuses on the field of machine learning, with a particular emphasis on exploring and enhancing the robustness of AI systems. Robustness is a critical component in building trustworthy machines, such as self-driving cars, where reliable performance is paramount.Jan and his team are dedicated to developing techniques that make verification models for testing robustness more efficient. However, significant challenges remain. One of the primary obstacles is the sheer size of current AI systems, like ChatGPT, which are too large to be efficiently verified using existing methods. Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Assistant Professor Tessa Verhoef has a passion for robotics and is dedicated to improving the human-likeness of robots, for instance by looking into their use of language.Her journey began with Kismet, a robot designed to convey emotions and engage in human-like interactions. While her expertise involves AI and robotics, she also delves into language evolution, exploring how languages form and transform over time. Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Rob van Nieuwpoort is Professor of Efficient Computing and eScience at LIACS. His research focuses mainly on augmenting the efficiency of software and applications. But it also tackles the challenges posed by large-scale simulations housed within data centers. In this era where the demand for storage capacity skyrockets, reaching a point where accommodating all data becomes impossible. In the 1960s, Moore's Law predicted the doubling of transistors on a chip every 2 years. Our current times finds us confronted with the constraints of chip capacity. And that is a fundamental problem for the future. But fortunately, Rob Van Nieuwpoort sees solutions.Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Enter the realm of tomography, the work field of 'digital archaeologist' Professor Joost Batenburg. Tomography is a technique to peer into objects without taking them apart, akin to the familiar CT scan. Two-dimensional images are converted into three-dimensional images using algorithms. Now Professor Batenburg has created a portable device that goes around objects, capturing their insides. No longer constrained by size, this device unveils the unseen, revealing secrets within sculptures and artifacts. This provides art historians with a wealth of valuable information about the creation of these artworks. Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Assistant professor Max van Duijn combines cognitive science with Artificial Intelligence (AI). His research is on children’s stories and the question if they have a so-called Theory of Mind. This is the ability to understand the mental state of somebody else and use this information to explain and predict human behavior. But here's the twist: Max's research not only applies to the exploration of storytelling but also serves as a test for AI. With the data collection, he and his team investigate uncharted territory: Does AI possess a mind? Can entities like ChatGPT truly empathize? Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Niki van Stein is assistant professor at LIACS. Her research focuses on explainable artificial intelligence (AI), with a specific focus on the maritime sector. At a time when modern marine vessels are evolving into complex supercomputers on water, AI plays a crucial role in efficiently managing maintenance tasks.However, the key to success lies in the ability of these AI systems to be understandable to both maintenance workers and crew on board. This is where Niki's research comes in: she aims to make AI accessible and understandable to everyone involved in ship maintenance.Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
Professor Suzan Verberne talks about her research on search engines and chatbots. She explains the difference between search engines such as Google, and large language models like ChatGPT. Furthermore, contrary to what many people think, Dutch as a language is much 'bigger' than you might expect. As a country we produce vast amounts of text. But will this help LLMs to adapt to local needs? Or do humans simply need to understand this technology better, in order to make full use of it?Idea by Dimitra KouimtzidouResearch, planning & coordination by Marcel Tichelaar & Dimitra KouimtzidouInterview, production & editing by Michiel van Poelgeest
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