AI x behavioral sciences
From Stuck to Start
- The Science of Motivation
What happens in our brain when we procrastinate versus when we can’t wait to launch into action? What happens when we are so consumed in action that we don’t realize the passing of time? What is the famous “flow” state? And most importantly: how can we help our brain to become more motivated and action-oriented? Join the conversation with an award-winning Harvard and NASA scientist who combines cutting-edge neuroscience and AI to explore our brain on motivation! Take a look inside her brain, real time, as she performs various tasks on stage. This session will demystify motivation and leave the audience with practical takeaways on how to tap into the brain’s “action zone”. There are 3 key takeaways:
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The brain goes through a specific neuroscience process during procrastination versus launching into action: it has been observed and documented on several occasions.
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The power of habit and actions to induce our motivation is not to be understated: the most highly active and effective people of history went through similar actions to induce motivation.
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You can induce your own motivation by following a few simple steps that are available to everyone, everywhere.
Your Eureka Engine:Your Brain
- The Science of Creativity
What happens in our brain when we have a creative burst? What happens when we have an Eureka moment? What happens when we are so consumed in creating that we don’t realize the passing of time? What is the famous “flow” state? And most importantly: how can we help our brain to become more creative? How to get out of a creative block? Join the conversation with an award-winning Harvard and NASA scientist who combines cutting-edge neuroscience and AI to explore our brain on creativity! Take a look inside her brain, real time, as she performs various tasks on stage. This session will demystify creativity and leave the audience with practical takeaways on how to tap into the brain’s “genius zone”.
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The brain goes through a specific neuroscience process during a creative burst and Eureka moment: it has been observed and documented on several occasions.
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The power of habit and actions to induce our creativity is not to be understated: the most creative people of history went through similar actions to induce creative bursts.
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You can induce your own creativity by following a few simple steps that are available to everyone everywhere.
Your Brain on Viral Videos
How do viral videos stimulate our brain? What makes our brain want more? What keeps us scrolling? Why do we smile at our computer screens? Join the conversation with an award-winning Harvard data scientist who analyzed thousands of hours of viral and non-viral videos from major creators (e.g., MrBeast, Dude Perfect) from a neuroscience perspective: brain waves, facial expression, and eye movement. Certain neuroscience signals are present across most viral videos - and largely missing in non-viral videos. This makes "virality" scientific and partially predictable!
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Most viral videos stimulate the brain in similar ways: similar brain waves are in similar regions of the brain while participants watch viral videos.
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Even though we are looking at a computer screen and not another human, we still have facial expressions. These are less pronounced, but measurable.
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"Virality" is scientific and largely predictable: major content creators learned through trial and error how to "hack into" their audiences' brains.
Beating Brain Rot: Protecting The Brain From Social Media “Mental Pollution”
How does social media scrolling affect our brain? What keeps us scrolling? How bad is scrolling for our brains’ health? Hint: very bad. In December 2024, Oxford University chose for the world of the year “brain rot”: negative psychological and cognitive effects caused by endlessly consuming low-quality content. Starting in late 2025, Australia will ban social media for teens; likely the first of many regulations to come. Join the conversation with award-winning Harvard scientist who analyzed thousands of hours of social media content and their impact on humans from a neuroscience perspective: brain waves, facial expression, and eye movement. Take a look inside her brain, real time, as she performs various tasks on stage.
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Our brain is not prepared for the digital age, smartphones, and social media scrolling. We would need thousands of years of evolution to prepare.
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This “unpreparedness of our brain” makes us very vulnerable. Scrolling can be addictive and can cause harm to our brain and therefore physical and mental well-being.
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Governments and institutions are taking the first steps to protect their people - but there are steps you as an individual can take as well!
AI x environmental and space sciences
Earth's Key Creature is Invisible
- but Seen from Space?!
What is the most critical creature on Earth? Hint: it is invisible to the naked eye, 99% of the people never heard about it, 200 years ago we didn't even know it existed, yet it produces over 50% of the Earth's oxygen. BUT: despite being invisible, it can be seen from space! For this reason, NASA just put into orbit a new satellite specifically dedicated to this creature: phytoplankton. Join the conversation with award-winning NASA and Harvard scientists on how we can see the invisible by leveraging the newest break-through space technology and AI. You might also get to touch and TASTE this creature!
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It is only "plant-a-tree" marketing campaigns that over-inflated the perceived importance of trees for oxygen production and climate change.
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This creature is all around us, and some versions of it are toxic: it can make humans and pets really sick, impacting our everyday life.
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As an "AI for Good" use case, it shows we can foster 4 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with the use of next-gen technologies.
Burning Questions:
Can AI and Space Tech Tame Fires?
Were the Los Angeles fires predictable? Are these fires an outlying event or part of the standard pattern of Mother Nature? Are city fires the new normal? Wildfires move with terrifying speed – some LA fires spread at 6 football fields per minute, outpacing even Usain Bolt - and thus fire response has to be even faster. While the LA fires paint a grim picture, the powerful synergy of cutting-edge AI and space technology can offer a lifeline. For example, NASA’s MODIS satellite has been collecting fire trends data for 26 years and in a few months Google’s research team will help orbit a new satellite that will allow fire monitoring with the unprecedented accuracy of 5x5 meters and at a reduced processing time: computation that takes 1 minute now will take 30 milliseconds. Vivien is an award-winning scientist, trained by the FDNY New York City Fire Department, a former Googler, and a current researcher for NASA - join her in exploring the transformative potential of AI’s and space tech’s synergy in fire management and UN SDGs impact. There are 3 key takeaways:
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Wildfires are not bad per se, wildfires are part of nature’s normal cycle.
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The synergy between cutting-edge AI and space technology transforms fire monitory and management.
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AI and space tech can be used for good to benefit humanity.
AI x business
The cost of AI
- for businesses and for the environment
AI is revolutionizing sustainability, but it’s also accelerating energy consumption at a dangerous pace. Drawing on her experience at Harvard and NASA, Vivien walks audiences through the duality of AI’s promise and cost: from its climate potential to the growing energy footprint of large models. If you're building green infrastructure, ESG policy, or climate tech, this talk gives you the tools to make smarter, more ethical AI choices.
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AI has the potential to help humanity in unprecedented ways, including tackling climate change.
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AI has a hidden cost that few talk about: most algorithms - especially GenAI models - are incredibly energy-consuming, taxing the environment.
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Due to AI’s energy consumption electricity prices are expected to increase, negatively impacting businesses globally but also creating an opportunity.
