In 2025, INESC TEC celebrates two milestones: 40 years and the 10th edition of the Autumn Forum. At a time when Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become part of our daily lives, INESC TEC invites a broad reflection on identity, ethics and society in a technological world – asking what is the role of the Human in the age of AI? On 17 November, Casa da Música will host a discussion that seeks answers to this question – and many others – extending well beyond technology and engineering. Registrations are now open.
Is the line between the creator of technology and the technology itself starting to blur? Are humans and their technologies heading towards competition or symbiosis? Could people cease to be the only decision-makers and innovators?
These are just some of the questions that increasingly shape our conversations about AI.
That is why INESC TEC is extending an open invitation to all fields of knowledge to reflect on the social impact and on the very definition of what might constitute the “human space” in this AI-driven era, in the year the Institute celebrates the 40th anniversary. The Autumn Forum will go far beyond technical debate: it will bring to the table ethical, philosophical, psychological and political questions that concern everyone.
“Historically, every major technological shift has destroyed certain jobs while creating new ones. The ‘Computer Age’, for example, automated many administrative and industrial tasks, while advancing information technologies, software, and digital service industries,” explained Pedro Guedes de Oliveira.
According to the President Emeritus of INESC TEC and Chair of the Autumn Forum’s Organising Committee, when it comes to technological progress, Artificial Intelligence – particularly advanced generative AI and machine learning models – represents a qualitative leap. “Unlike earlier tools, AI does not merely amplify human capability – it can replicate, or even outperform, certain cognitive tasks, from writing and design to programming, legal analysis and medical diagnostics. AI does not just support decision-making; it can make decisions,” he stated.
This year’s event will take place in the Sala Suggia at Casa da Música, on the afternoon of 17 November, featuring both international and national speakers. Among them are two keynote speakers who bring cutting-edge perspectives on language models, generative AI, and the mathematical foundations of AI: Marzieh Fadaee, Director of Cohere Labs and former researcher at Google Brain, expert in language models and machine translation; and Gitta Kutyniok, Professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, pioneer in the mathematical foundations of AI and co-founder of the startup EcoLogic Computing.
The Autumn Forum will also feature a round-table discussion bringing together a distinguished multidisciplinary panel, including: Arlindo Oliveira (Instituto Superior Técnico, Chairman of INESC), a leading researcher in algorithms and AI; Mário Figueiredo (IST), senior researcher and expert in machine learning; José Carlos Príncipe (University of Florida), international award-winning expert in neuroengineering and brain–computer interfaces; Sofia Miguens (Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto), philosopher with extensive research on human, animal and artificial minds; and Mário Boto Ferreira (Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon), cognitive psychologist and Director of CICPSI (Research Center for Psychological Science), who studies memory, decision-making and the social applications of AI.
Participation is free but subject to registration, available until 5 November 2025. More information about the event here.
The INESC TEC Autumn Forum is an annual initiative that fosters dialogue between science, technology and society, creating a critical and multidisciplinary space for debate on key issues shaping our collective future.
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