Did you ever see a scientist waving her finger to a lamp? It is a quick way to find out whether the lamp causes flicker or stroboscopic effects. Cheap low-quality lamps then let you see a multitude projected fingers in stead of a single one.

Our electricity grid provides power as 50 Hz alternating current. LED lamps run on DC. The conversion from AC to DC may cause flicker in the light. Gosia Perz reports not only on what she sees happening in the market (LEDs have improved) but also on innovations and technical progress reported at LS24. These temporal light effects were the topic a special session at LS24.

The ancient Chinese concept of balance, Yin and Yang, suggests that harmony comes from finding a careful balance between opposing forces. While today’s topic isn’t about Chinese philosophy, it resonates with this idea of balance—especially in the context of AI.

In this episode, I’m joined by Diederik Roijers, a senior researcher at the AI Lab at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Diederik is a specialist in Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning (MORL),

Diederik brings a unique perspective into how we can balance competing goals in decision-making, rather than focusing narrowly on optimising just one.

How should we navigate trade-offs, like maximising rewards versus minimising risks? Diederik suggests that pursuing “good enough” outcomes might be more practical—and ethical—than chasing perfection. His vision is hopeful yet pragmatic: by making deliberate choices about how AI is designed and deployed, we can reap the societal benefits of AI. He believes in the possibility of creating AI systems that are innovative, transparent, maintainable, and aligned with societal values. Together, we explore what it might take to ensure AI serves everyone—not just a select few.

Mirte van der Nat and Geert Kruijswijk are the co-founders of “Due to curiosity”, a Brainport start-up with a social purpose, best known for its “Navigating stress” toolkit, which is a playful way for a serious conversation about stress and its impact on mental health.

In this Edition 13 of Ralu on Board, Ralu Nistor-Lustermans had the opportunity to hear from Mirte and Geert, about their entrepreneurial journey and how a Design Academy student project ended up becoming a market product with a purpose on shifting the conversation on stress and mental health from curative to preventative.

“Preventative solutions are not the sexiest, it is easier to buy pain killers than vitamins”, mentions Geert and despite this challenge Mirte and Geert are aware that their product is something that the society desperately needs, as the figures, around the cost of people falling out due to burnout or the cost of people leaving the companies because there is no attention to their development and well-being, are raising.

This podcast is packed with insights in the ups and downs of a start-up, on what it takes to gain visibility and market, when your ideas are ahead of the market, and how designing, analysing, realising, and adjusting to the market current needs while not forgetting about the bigger idea, needs to be balanced with dreaming and getting things done when you are an entrepreneur with a social purpose.

Join Iman Mossavat for an insightful episode of **Podcasts 4 Brainport** with special guests Albert Podusenko and İsmail Şenöz, as we dive into the innovative world of Lazy Dynamics. This cutting-edge company is reshaping how agents process and act on real-time data in unpredictable environments. Their software streamlines the development of intelligent systems capable of navigating uncertainty — whether it's an ambulance optimizing routes or legal tech helping lawyers model strategic uncertainties in complex litigation.

At the heart of their approach is RxInfer, a fast and efficient tool designed to overcome the computational limitations of traditional probabilistic programming libraries, enabling real-time decision-making. With a unique reactive message-passing system, Lazy Dynamics ensures agents can keep reasoning even if some sensors fail — a true breakthrough for dynamic, high-stakes environments.

Discover how collaboration and open-source contributions are fueling their success and how these innovations are shaping the future. Tune in for an episode packed with insights into the future of AI and real-time decision-making!

#AI #MachineLearning #RealTimeData #Innovation #ProbabilisticProgramming #ProbabilisticInference #FreeEnergy #LeastAction #AIForGood #TechInnovation #LazyDynamics #OpenSource #FutureOfAI #Podcasts4Brainport

In this episode of Podcasts for Brainport, host Iman Mossavat sits down with Professor Mehdi Dastani, an expert in AI and Human-Centered AI at Utrecht University. They discuss the intersection of AI, formal reasoning methods, and safety, exploring how research from psychology, law, and philosophy can help create AI systems that are more responsible and aligned with human values. Professor Dastani argues for systems that combine domain knowledge and deliberate reasoning with machine learning to address challenges like accidents, biases, and other risks in AI. He also explains his vision for a framework that integrates machine learning, expertise, and reasoning, aiming to improve AI’s reliability in industries where safety is key. Finally, Professor Dastani shares his thoughts on the power imbalance between tech companies and users, discussing how traditional institutions are getting disrupted by technology. Tune in for this conversation on the future of AI and the importance of ethical, reliable systems on Podcasts for Brainport and Radio 4 Brainport.

#AI #HumanCenteredAI #AIethics #MachineLearning #SafetyAI #VerificationMethods #AIresearch #UtrechtUniversity #AIandPhilosophy #ResponsibleInnovation #AIrisks #Podcasts4Brainport #Radio4Brainport

Do you want to contribute to a future in which all young people have the opportunity to develop optimally? On November 27 and 28, 2024, the Eindhoven Parktheater hosts an international event for youth workers. It brings together more than 50 youth workers from Belgium, Curaçao, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Cyprus, Nigeria, South Africa, Moldova, Belarus, United States Kingdom and Armenia. Exchange ideas and discover new opportunities for youth work together. Dive into the world of digital badges to discover how we can support youth development in an innovative way.

In this episode of *Podcasts 4 Brainport*, host Iman Mossavat sits down with Inge Brattinga, a lawyer at VRF Advocaten and lecturer at Avans University of Applied Sciences, to discuss AI and its impact on the workplace. They discuss how AI is changing hiring practices, decision-making, privacy, and human rights. Inge explains the importance of AI literacy and how businesses can use AI responsibly while considering legal and ethical issues.

They also cover key topics like bias in AI systems, the risks of over-trusting AI, and the need for human oversight. Inge highlights why understanding AI and your rights is important for everyone and what accountability looks like when things go wrong. Plus, they touch on how small companies can navigate upcoming regulations under the AI Act. Tune in for practical insights on AI in the workplace.

One example is the new AI act. Did it already deprive European citizens from nice new Apple features? Inge disagrees: Apple just needs to thing a little longer to implements these features in an ethical way, and this slight delay all worth it

"United by Poetry" applies the power of poetry to express themes and topics related to Europe. Young citizens think of the impressive history, art and culture, values ​​and diversity, or about climate change, war and peace or migration.

Jacques Giebertz of Europe Direct Eindhoven invites everyone to recite poems but also to just listen and enjoy. With poems from different countries in various languages. And some surprising musical intermezzos.

Are you interested in participating? Come on stage! It can be with a poem from yourself or from someone else. Any language is allowed. Send your poem before November 14 to [email protected] or to [email protected]

Nov 2024

In Dialogue. About Europe and you. Who belongs? Europe Direct hosts a debate (in Dutch) about the meaning of Europe and the EU in people's daily lives. Who belongs? We live in Europe. The Netherlands is a member of the European Union. But do we feel we belong? And conversely, does Brussels belong to us? A dialogue approach according to the Eindhoven method in Dialogue.

Jean-Paul Linnartz interviews Jacques Giebertz for Radio 4 Brainport

The world faces enormous challenges. The 2024 projects cover a range of topics connected to the theme of ‘Semicon’. “At the root of so many important technical designs and devices, you’ll find semiconductors,”.

Lucas Asselbergs explains to Jean-Paul Linnartz that semicon is not a design in itself, but it is a technology that is indispensable in many of the tech-driven designs that enrich our world and expand our potential.”

Photo from archive DDW 2019 when Radio 4 Brainport made live programs from DDW