Leon Bottou, PhD
Flatiron Institute
Biography:
Léon Bottou is a 2007 Blavatnik Award-winning research scientist who has advanced both the theory and application of machine learning, neural networks, and artificial intelligence since the nineties. Before joining the Flatiron Institute in 2026, he held leading research positions at Meta AI (FAIR NY), Microsoft Research (MSR), NEC Labs America (Princeton), and AT&T Bell Laboratories (Holmdel).
Abstract:
Imagine a machine that can read a story and generate a meaningful continuation, that is, one that meets the narrative demands of the story in a manner that makes sense to readers. Because what is true in the world of the story needs not be true in our world, this machine cannot be expected to say the truth. It only knows narrative necessity. This machine is of course an idealized model of modern AI systems, from language models and chatbots to movie generation. It is also an opportunity to formulate important questions and sometimes catch a glimpse of their answers. How can we define such a machine more rigorously? What can it compute? How does it compare to logic and mathematical reasoning? Can it be used to make inferences about our world even though its output is not constrained by what is true in our world? Such questions outline a research program that can both help making sense of artificial intelligence and clarify certain aspects of human cognition and society.
Léon Bottou is a 2007 Blavatnik Award-winning research scientist who has advanced both the theory and application of machine learning, neural networks, and artificial intelligence since the nineties. Before joining the Flatiron Institute in 2026, he held leading research positions at Meta AI (FAIR NY), Microsoft Research (MSR), NEC Labs America (Princeton), and AT&T Bell Laboratories (Holmdel).
Abstract:
Imagine a machine that can read a story and generate a meaningful continuation, that is, one that meets the narrative demands of the story in a manner that makes sense to readers. Because what is true in the world of the story needs not be true in our world, this machine cannot be expected to say the truth. It only knows narrative necessity. This machine is of course an idealized model of modern AI systems, from language models and chatbots to movie generation. It is also an opportunity to formulate important questions and sometimes catch a glimpse of their answers. How can we define such a machine more rigorously? What can it compute? How does it compare to logic and mathematical reasoning? Can it be used to make inferences about our world even though its output is not constrained by what is true in our world? Such questions outline a research program that can both help making sense of artificial intelligence and clarify certain aspects of human cognition and society.
