Artificial intelligence in society and research: Leopoldina Annual Assembly opens in Halle (Saale)
Reports and Proceedings
This month, we’re focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), a topic that continues to capture attention everywhere. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how AI is being developed and used across the world.
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Nov-2025 09:11 ET (21-Nov-2025 14:11 GMT/UTC)
Artificial intelligence in all its facets is the focus of this year’s Annual Assembly of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, which takes place in Halle (Saale) today, Thursday 25 September, and tomorrow, Friday 26 September. The event brings together renowned experts from various disciplines to discuss current developments in AI research, their possible uses, and what this means for society. To open the event, Dr Lydia Hüskens, Deputy Minister President and Minister for Infrastructure and Digital Affairs of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, and Dr Rolf-Dieter Jungk, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), will give welcome addresses. All the Annual Assembly lectures will also be livestreamed.
The article examines how machine learning is revolutionizing igneous petrology and volcanology by automating tasks, enhancing models, and accelerating discoveries. At the same time, the authors warn of key challenges, including the need to understand what models actually learn and to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and interpretability. These concerns are especially critical for volcanic hazard assessment and crisis management. The study also addresses ethical risks and reviews evolving policies in the EU, US, and China.
In a paper published on aBIOTECH, the authors developed a lightweight open-source deep learning algorithm automates wheat Fusarium Head Blight diseased spikelet rate measurement from phone-captured images. With 93.8% AP and 7.2M parameters, this algorithm is fit for deployment on mobile devices to facilitate resistance breeding.
Innovative 14-16-month programme blends academic excellence, technical rigour, AI-driven learning, and unmatched employer connectivity across INSEAD’s campuses in France, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a platform that combines automated wet lab techniques with artificial intelligence (AI) to design nanoparticles for drug delivery. The approach could help researchers deliver difficult-to-encapsulate therapeutics more efficiently and effectively.