Thomas Meyer : Symbolic AI in the era of LLMs

Titre: Symbolic AI in the era of LLMs

Abstract:

Recent spectacular advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) focus strongly on the sub-area of AI known as machine learning. In this talk, I will remind participants that there are several other sub-disciplines of AI, and that it is important for the field to maintain and grow expertise in all aspects of AI. I will then proceed to practise what I preach by introducing Symbolic AI as one of the pillars of AI. The talk will conclude with some suggestions on how Symbolic AI can benefit from research in machine learning, and vice versa.

Bio-sketch:

Professor Thomas (Tommie) Meyer is a professor in Computer Science at UCT, the NRF SARChI research chair in Symbolic Artificial Intelligence, the co-director of the national Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research, and one of only three South African Computer Scientists to have been awarded an A rating by the NRF. He is the (co-) author of more than 200 peer-reviewed research outputs and has overseen 7 postdoctoral fellowships, and supervised 7 PhD students and 20 Master’s students to completion. He is currently supervising 6 PhD students and 9 Master’s students. He is an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, an elected fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, and the recipient of the 2025 Pioneer Award of the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists.