Brave new bullsh*t | In-person

Your future workday might look like this:

• You write bullet points.
• You ask a chat bot to expand them into a report.
• You send it to your boss...
• Who asks a chatbot to summarise it into bullet points.

Will AI help you to do your job or take it from you? Is it fair for AI to be trained on copyrighted material? Will any productivity gains benefit everyone or only a select few?

Join Professor Philip Wadler’s talk as he looks at the hopes and threats of AI, exploring who wins and who loses.

Can't attend in-person? Watch online!

This is a hybrid event. This event page is for the in-person tickets only. If you would like to attend online, please book your tickets through the online (livestreamed) event page.

Important points to note

• This event is suitable for age 16+

• Filming: Livestreaming and photography may take place at this event. Please let a member of the RSE Public Engagement team know if you do not want to be photographed. Recorded events will be made available on the RSE YouTube channel.
• Covid-19: If you would like to wear a face mask, please feel comfortable to do so at our events. Please be mindful of other participants and stay at home if you have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.

SPEAKER

Professor Philip Wadler FRS FRSE

Professor of Theoretical Computer Science, University of Edinburgh

Philip Wadler is Professor of Theoretical Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh and Senior Research Fellow at IOHK. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and an ACM Fellow.

Professor Wadler has received numerous accolades for his contributions to theoretical computer science, including the SIGPLAN Distinguished Service Award and the POPL Most Influential Paper Award. His academic journey has taken him to some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, with past positions or study at Stanford University, Xerox PARC, CMU, the University of Oxford, Chalmers University, the University of Glasgow, Bell Labs, and Avaya Labs. He has also held guest professorships in Copenhagen, Sydney, and Paris.

A prolific researcher, his work has been cited over 25,000 times, and he holds an h-index of over 70, according to Google Scholar. He contributed to the designs of Haskell, Java, and XQuery. Professor Wadler has delivered talks worldwide – from Aizu to Zurich – sharing insights that continue to shape the field of programming languages.

About the Curious festival

The RSE’s free Curious festival of knowledge is back, from Saturday 6 − Saturday 14 September 2025!

Curious is a festival of ideas – open to all and driven by connection, conversation, and discovery. It’s a chance to explore ideas and questions that matter with some of Scotland’s leading thinkers – and with people who bring their own lived experiences, insights, and curiosity to the table.

From science and society to arts and innovation, the programme spans a wide range of topics – with each event designed to spark dialogue, invite different perspectives, and encourage knowledge exchange.

Curious is an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, plus those who see the world differently, and be part of discussions where everyone is welcome to share, learn, and be inspired. Full programme of events here.

Accessibility

We aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or have any questions related to how we can support this event, please contact public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk. Accessibility information for the RSE building can be found on our website: Accessibility - Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) : Royal Society of Edinburgh

The RSE is trialling the WelcoMe app for our public events. This app enables visitors with accessibility needs to discreetly inform our staff of any assistance required before their visit. Simply fill out a quick form with your needs and estimated arrival time, and our team will be ready to accommodate you.

Wheelchair spaces: If you would like to book a space as a wheelchair user, please select the ticket type 'wheelchair space ticket' during the booking process. If this is sold out, please contact the Curious team on curious@therse.org.uk.

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Newsletter

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