On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, another evening of the “First Lectures” series took place at IT: U Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria. The two IT: U founding professors Nina Hubig, assistant Professor of Explainable Artificial Intelligence, and Jie Mei, Assistant Professor of Computational Neuroscience, devoted themselves to “Neuro (X) AI” and the “Black Box of Minds and Machines” and thus placed the explanability of artificial intelligence (AI) and their importance for the neurovianism focus. Especially in researching the human brain, AI can help to better understand complex neuronal processes and to gain new scientific knowledge.
A central field of application is the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, which opens up pioneering opportunities for both research and medical practice. At the same time, AI can support decision -making in healthcare and patient communication – but only if their processes are transparent and understandable.
“The inaugural lectures by Nina Hubig and Jie Mei mark a milestone in interdisciplinary research at the interface of artificial intelligence (AI), neurosciences and medicine. They impressively show how explanable AI can help to understand the complex processes of the brain better and to gain new scientific knowledge. In particular Revolutionizing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
according to IT: President of the U-foundation Stefanie Lindstaedt.
Explanable AI in high-risk decisions
IT: U Founding Professor Nina Hubig stated in her inaugural lecture how artificial intelligence can improve decision -making in healthcare and patient communication – but only if people can follow and trust the decision -making process. She emphasized that AI has to provide clear, understandable explanations – this is also a central principle in the EU’s AI law. This is particularly important in risky areas such as medicine. Ki is used here, for example, in cardiology to predict the success of interventions based on patients. Nina Hubig examines how explanability cardiolog: can help interpret risk forecasts inside, while at the same time ensuring patient -centered communication.
“AI reflects society and thus also our values, prejudices and complexities. Ultimately, it’s not just about understanding or explaining AI, but about deepening our understanding of ourselves and who we want to be”
so Nina Hubig, Assistent Professor of Explainable Artificial Intelligence.
AI to decryption of neuroscience
The research of IT: U Founding Professor Jie Mei combines artificial intelligence and neurosciences. She uses AI to improve brain research and optimizes AI models with neuroscientific principles. She emphasized that the neurosciences remain a developing field that is occupied with uncertainties that meet the challenges in AI research. Her work contributes to progress in both areas, for example, KI can contribute to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases: AI models could enable earlier detection of Parkinson’s disease as an indicator by changes in the sense of smell. They also help to identify brain regions that are affected by the progress of Parkinson’s disease.
“Neurosciences are a young field that was only named about 60 years ago, and it is still looking for a uniform theory. For me, beauty lies not only in the complexity of the brain, but also in the many uncertainties that we face – the uncertainty of what we do not know about the uncertainty about which parts of our knowledge may be wrong and the uncertainty about exploring the brain”
describes Jie Mei, Assistant Professor of Computational Neuroscience.
The professors
The “First Lectures” – a new format – innovative, interdisciplinary and interactive
The format of the “First Lecture” offers exciting insights into the eleven research groups of IT: U, Austria’s most recent technical university, which – based on interdisciplinary research and project -based, personalized learning – is dedicated to digital transformation, processes them proactively and in a solution -oriented manner. All dates are over www.it-u.at as well as announced in advance on social media and invite you to participate on site and online.
All inaugural lectures to look out: Inaugural Lecture – YouTube
An interdisciplinary approach to social norms and practices: Theory, Work and Rules
Lecture with Christian Hilbe (Professor of Game Theory and Evolutionary Dynamics) and Ben Wagner (Professor of Human Rights and Technology)
Datum: 02.04.2025, 5:00 p.m.
Art: Lectures and discussions
Ort: Online / IT:U
Altenberger Straße 66c
4040 Linz
Austria
(Inter-)Professional Transformations: Why Process Matters
Lecture with Sebastian Dennerlein (Assistant Professor of Digital Transformation in Learning) and other experts: inside.
Datum: April 29, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Art: Lectures and discussions
Ort: Online / IT:U
Altenberger Straße 66c
4040 Linz
Austria