IVADO’s program of thematic scientific semesters offers interdisciplinary events aimed at exploring major challenges in artificial intelligence (AI). Overseen by an international scientific committee, each semester is designed to catalyze significant advances in strategic areas of AI, while integrating diverse perspectives to tackle complex challenges with an interdisciplinary approach.

Current and Future Thematic Semesters

Statistical Foundations of AI

May to August, 2026

This thematic semester devoted to the statistical foundations of AI offers a timely and rigorous opportunity to strengthen the conceptual and technical link between statistics and AI. Furthermore, this targeted initiative has the dual objective of strengthening fundamental research while empowering the statistical community to critically evaluate and innovate in AI applications in various contexts. It responds to an essential need: to firmly anchor the power of AI in statistical reasoning that guarantees its reliability and credibility.

Registration opens on February 2nd, 2026.

Computational Ingredients of Reasoning

January to March, 2026

This thematic semester aims to bring together researchers from artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive science, neuroscience, philosophy, and the social sciences to explore the mechanisms that enable intelligent reasoning in artificial and biological systems.

Past Thematic Semesters

Autonomous LLM Agents: Risks and Scientific Challenges

August to November, 2025

While large language models continue to transform our daily lives, a new revolution is brewing in research labs and in the industrial world: autonomous agents. IVADO, a centre of excellence in AI…

Large Language Models and Transformers

January to May, 2025

IVADO invites you to Berkeley, California, to take part in a thematic semester organized in collaboration with the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing.