PIMS Thematic Year on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence

Thematic Year 2026

PIMS has designated 2026–2027 as the inaugural PIMS Thematic Year, the first in a series of annual research themes supported through our Simons Foundation grant. Each thematic year will focus the collective expertise of the PIMS network on an area of strategic importance, fostering collaboration and accelerating research. The inaugural theme, Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, recognizes the increasingly important role of mathematics in advancing AI and supports research that will help make AI systems more reliable, transparent, efficient, and trustworthy.

The program will engage researchers, students, industry, and policymakers through workshops, conferences, and collaborative initiatives spanning the mathematical foundations, applications, and societal impacts of AI. Planned activities include:

 

  • A panel on "Mathematical Foundations of Canada's AI Future" that PIMS is organizing jointly with the Canadian mathematical sciences institutes at a special summit on AI and Policy Making at the Canadian Science Policy (CSPC) Conference
  • An AI-focused cohort within the Math to Power Industry (M2PI) program
  • A special session on the mathematical foundations of AI at the 2027 Joint Mathematics Meetings (Chicago, January 2027), organized by PIMS, alongside the CRM-PIMS-AARMS-Fields invited address
  • The MATHAM conference on Mathematics for AI (in development)
  • Workshops, conferences and other activities (see events below)

 

Together, these activities span the full breadth of the theme, from foundational mathematical research to industry collaboration, policy engagement, and community building. To learn more, contact your Site Director or the PIMS Directorate.

Upcoming Events in the PIMS Thematic Year in AI

Scientific, Conference
Women in Mathematics of Data Science Workshop
August 4–14, 2026
University of British Columbia
Workshop Timeline February: Applications open. March 29: Applications should be submitted by this date to ensure full consideration. April 10: Decisions will be announced. April 10: Group leaders will share their proposed projects with accepted...
Scientific, Workshop
PIMS Workshop on Automated Mathematics (Lean + AI)
August 17–19, 2026
University of British Columbia
PIMS invites faculty members from across the PIMS network to apply to participate in an intensive three-day, in-person workshop on Lean with LLM integration, led by Professor Eric Klavins (University of Washington), whose recent UW course on...