In conversation: Robots, assemble!
This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2026.
With an awe-inspiring global system that enables virtually every aspect of our existence, the world of manufacturing has a seismic influence on our lives. And as global production and supply chains become ever more complex, AI-integrated robots will transform the way we build, recycle and manufacture in future.
But tasks that may seem simple for humans require the ability to sense, plan and perform actions in the physical world that are a major challenge for today’s AI and robotics – a challenge that researchers are determined to overcome. In this discussion, a panel of experts explores this challenge and the future role of robots in building our world.
Speakers include:
- Professor Ingmar Posner – Founding Director of the Oxford Robotics Institute who leads the Applied Artificial Intelligence Lab at Oxford University
- Dr Tim Minshall – Dr John C Taylor Professor of Innovation, Head of the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge and author of Your Life is Manufactured: How the World is Made and How We Can Do It Better, shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Science Book Prize
- Madhumita Murgia (Chair) – Artificial Intelligence Editor, The Financial Times and author of Code-Dependent: How AI is Changing Our Lives (2024)
Attending the event
This event will be held in Theatre 1 at the Royal Society on Thursday 2 July 2026, 2pm – 2.40pm.
- Free to attend as part of Summer Science Exhibition on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to seat availability. We recommend that visitors arrive 10-15 minutes before the session
- Eventbrite tickets for Summer Science Exhibition are recommended, with only a limited number of walk-up tickets released on the day
- Suitable for students aged 14+
- This talk will take place in person
- A recording of this talk will be available later on the Royal Society YouTube channel
- Live subtitles will be available
- Travel and accessibility information and details on planning your visit - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
- Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café
For all enquiries, please email us.
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