May 18th – 20th, 2026 in 340 West Hall
The Physics Department at the University of Michigan supported by The Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics will host the 11th LCTP Spring Symposium: Theoretical Physics and AI.
The focus of the Symposium will be on how the activities and goals of theoretical physics can be advanced by the recent and future-anticipated developments of artificial intelligence. This ranges from high-speed computations of trained neural networks to synthesis activities of large sets of “theory data” into meaningful results that humans cannot readily do (e.g., finding simplifications/symmetries in hundreds of pages of symbolic algebra).
We also plan to cover what theoretical physics can do for artificial intelligence. Deep Neural Networks have many properties directly analogous to field theories. Theoretical physics has spent more than a century developing extraordinary tools to evaluate and solve field theories. Much physical intuition has been developed as well. There has already been good progress on making fruitful connections between field theory and DNN. We wish to cover those developments and invited speakers will explain the latest progress and future hopes.
The workshop will be on May 18th – 20th, 2026, with talks ending near midday on the 20th and a reception on the evening of the 18th. However, participants will be welcome to stay later in the week for additional interaction as desired. There will be no registration fee. Participants should register for planning purposes. Registration link is at the bottom of this page.
