About the Session

“AI has arrived in science” is an understatement. It is a force-multiplier to some and the scourge of others. Its arrival has yielded both incredibly simple and simply astounding benefits, while also heralding a healthy share of frustrations, concerns, skepticism, and legitimate questions. It is compelling scientists to do what they are uniquely good at: asking the important questions.

Are the outputs reliable and trustworthy? What is this doing to the environment? How does bias shape outputs? Are we trading critical thinking and reasoning that we’ve developed over centuries for expediency?

These tough questions and more are exactly the ones that should be asked when testing the research question: Does AI Measure Up in Science? 

There are no universalities when it comes to using AI, but there are strong practices that can and do offer real value to the professionals using it, and alongside of humans steering it, it is creating scientific breakthroughs beyond expectations. 

This session will approach AI from a balanced, practical, and sustainable point of view with no fluff. You get to decide what’s right for you.

We will establish a practical continuum designed to meet every scientist where they are. On one end: simple, high-trust applications that deliver immediate value, both inside scientific processes and across the professional workflows scientists navigate daily, from emails to presentations to literature management. On the other end: advanced use cases for those who are ready to push further, paired with the scientific rigor and oversight that keep AI honest when the stakes are higher. This session will help you find solid footing on this continuum.

Part lecture, part lab, part demonstration, and part thought experiment, we will put AI through its paces in real time. You can expect demonstrations that straddle scientific and general professional workflows. We’ll point out failure modes, shortcomings, and caveats with a commitment to the same rigor you bring to your own work.

You will leave with a practical understanding of how AI can come alongside you in your work, at the level you decide, without compromising your standards, values, or critical thinking. At the end, if your conclusion is “not yet,” that is a valid scientific outcome, too. Either way, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of AI and Whether, When, and How to Use AI in Your Work.