NZC Visiting Fellow Professor Nikola Kasabov Lectures at Peking University

24/04/2018 - Peking University hosted Professor Nikola Kasabov as a Visiting Fellow, from the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in the School of Engineering at Auckland University of Technology. On Tuesday 24th April he presented his lecture to an audience of engaged masters students and professors at the Department of Computer Sciences. 

Professor Kasabov arrived at Peking University on 24 April 2018, on his three-day visit to Beijing as a Visiting Fellow to continue his research with Professor Ying Tan, from the Laboratory of Machine Perception, in the Department of Machine Intelligence. Building on from Professor Tan’s visit to New Zealand in previous years, these two professors continue to strengthen their academic partnership, and further explore research collaboration opportunities between their respective departments. 

During his visit, Professor Kasabov  presented his seminar entitled “Spiking Neural Networks, Deep-Learning, and Brain-Inspired Artificial Intelligence”. 

Professor Kasabov lecturing at Peking University

In his seminar Professor Kasabov discusses how current Artificial Intelligence (AI) research focusses on the development of intelligent machines that utilise information processing principles from the human brain. Therefore, Brain-Inspired techniques such as Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) and associated deep learning algorithms facilitate the development of the next generation of AI systems. 

He emphasises how Brain-inspired techniques rely on learning how the brain works through rule extraction from data. The human brain is a deep learning system, which is optimised by evolution, i.e. change over time, rather than fixed structures.  This highlights the importance of adaptive learning of evolving processes through space and time. The connections made by the brain are measured in terms of spike frequency. In this way, modelling time-space processes play an important role in Brain-Inspired knowledge representation. 

Professor Kasabov visiting the PKU Campus with Professor Ying Tan and Liaison Officer Ms Mia Chung

Therefore, Professor Kasabov explains that the development of SNN, and deep learning within SNN architectures are at the core of Brain-inspired AI research. The evolutionary and quantum-inspired optimisation of SNN systems, and the development of software and hardware platforms for SNN are key areas of focus. He also identifies specific methods, systems and applications based on deep-learning in SNN for various problem-solving contexts, such as audio-visual data and Brain-computer interfaces.  Professor Kasabov notes that by 2030 China is predicted to be a leader in Artificial Intelligence development, making this an important area of research for the next generation of scholars. 

Professor Kasabov’s seminar enjoyed a positive reception, and was followed by an animated question and discussion period.

During his stay in Beijing, Professor Kasabov also  visited the China Academy of Sciences Institute for Automation.

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