Step into a world where magic and technology collide in a fascinating exploration of AI and deception.

Dr Matt Tompkins, a professional magician and a researcher in visual cognition at Lund University, will perform a live magic show that delves into how we perceive and misperceive. Using mentalism and sleight of hand techniques, Matt will reveal how easily we can be directed to notice or overlook unexpected events.

Following the performance, he’ll join Professor Kate Devlin, Professor of AI and Society, for a conversation on the psychology behind magic tricks and how this relates to our understanding of black box technologies. Don't miss this captivating blend of magic, science, and storytelling.

You do not need any prior knowledge of AI to enjoy this event. 

This festival event is a collaboration between the King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Futures Institute.

Register on Eventbrite.

This event will be held in a venue that sells alcohol and food. If you want to make an evening of it, sign up for The Loop: A New Musical About AI which is happening before this event from 18.00 to 19.15.

Speakers

Professor Kate Devlin is Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Society in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and the Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute, King’s College London. She is also King’s lead investigator on the UKRI’s Responsible AI UK programme, which brings together researchers from across the UK to understand how we should shape the development of AI to benefit people, communities and society.

Dr Matt Tompkins is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Lund University’s Choice Blindness Lab, where he is working on a project that involves adapting techniques from mentalism magic to study how people perceive and misperceive emerging technologies related to neuroscience and AI. He is also a professional magician.

King's Festival of Artificial Intelligence

This event is part of the King’s Festival of Artificial Intelligence. Running from Tuesday 20 May to Saturday 24 May, the free, five-day festival brings together a diverse line-up of experts to consider critical questions about artificial intelligence in the context of healthcare, education, sustainability, policy, and creativity.

If you are interested in this event, you may also want to join us for:

• The Digital Futures of Literature
• The Loop: A New Musical About AI
• AI Dreams and Sci-Fi Nightmares (online)

Festival events will take place across several King’s venues, so please check carefully where the event is taking place. Festival event times may be subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to attendees via Eventbrite emails.

Please note, King's events are free, which means we routinely overbook to allow for no-shows and avoid empty seats. Admission is on a first come, first served basis, so please arrive in good time to avoid disappointment. We will not be able to admit those without tickets or latecomers.