Colloquium: When the Smallest AI Meets the Biggest Data
Nanosecond Discovery at the CERN LHC & The Future of Fast ML
General information
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Date: January 13, 2026
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Time: 4:30 pm
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Venue: Anfiteatro Abreu Faro, IST
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Language: English
Program
1. Colloquium
Speaker: Thea Aarrestad (Senior Postdoctoral Researcher, ETH Zurich)
Abstract: In particle physics, the Standard Model—our most accurate and predictive theory—remains only an effective description that breaks down at high energies. The search for new physics beyond it is driven by the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which produces an extraordinary 10,000 exabytes of raw data each year.
Handling this volume requires real-time event-filtering systems. As the LHC enters its High-Luminosity era (HL-LHC), these systems must manage data rates approaching 5% of global internet traffic. Achieving the required data fidelity demands AI algorithms that deliver extreme throughput and ultra-low-latency inference. This talk explores how tiny, highly optimized AI models are redefining real-time data processing and transforming the search for Beyond Standard Model phenomena.
2. Panel Discussion: The Future of Fast Machine Learning
A follow-up debate focused on future perspectives for the development of dedicate processors for fast machine learning.
Participants:
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Thea Aarrestad (ETH Zurich) – Expert in Fast ML and Particle Physics.
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Arlindo Oliveira (IST / INESC-ID) – Expert in AI, Algorithms, and Bio-computing.
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Mário Figueiredo (IST / IT) – Expert in Machine Learning and Signal Processing.
Short Bios
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Thea Aarrestad: Investigadora na ETH Zurich, especialista no desenvolvimento de algoritmos de ML de baixa latência aplicados aos sistemas de trigger do detetor CMS no CERN.
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Arlindo Oliveira: Professor Catedrático no IST e Investigador no INESC-ID. Especialista em Inteligência Artificial, Algoritmos e Arquiteturas de Computação. Foi Presidente do IST e é autor de diversos livros sobre a evolução da computação e o futuro da IA.
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Mário Figueiredo: Professor Catedrático no IST e investigador no Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT). É um dos investigadores portugueses mais citados no mundo na área de Machine Learning.
