BRATISLAVA — ESET, a leading global cybersecurity firm renowned for its anti-virus and firewall solutions, proudly announces its collaboration with DeepMind, the prestigious Google research laboratory for artificial intelligence, in organizing the prestigious Eastern European Summer School of Machine Learning. Held this week (July 10 – July 15, 2023) at the esteemed Technical University of Košice, Slovakia, the event is poised to offer university students in the region unprecedented access to cutting-edge advancements and knowledge in the AI domain, according to a press release published on EuropaWire .

Drawing 160 students from 41 different countries who successfully navigated the rigorous selection process, the Summer School promises an enriching educational experience. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to learn from 27 distinguished experts representing 20 renowned institutions and companies worldwide. The comprehensive curriculum will explore a myriad of subjects, including Deep Learning, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, ethics in Machine Learning, and the application of Machine Learning in medicine and robotics.

Esteemed luminaries gracing the Summer School include Yoshua Bengio, a trailblazing figure in artificial intelligence renowned for his work in deep learning. Additionally, the roster features distinguished experts like Doina Precup, a professor at McGill University and president of AI Canada. The event also shines a spotlight on local talent from Slovakia, including Michal Valko, Jana Košecká, and Peter Richtárik.

Juraj Malcho, Chief Technology Officer at ESET, remarked, “Artificial intelligence is a topic that resonates more and more not only within professional circles but also in society as a whole. We are delighted that Košice has become the focus of a global debate on a phenomenon that will facilitate our lives in many ways, while also bringing its challenges. The lineup of speakers shows that the Central and Eastern European region, and specifically Slovakia, has internationally respected experts in the field of IT. It is becoming more and more important that the best experts should share their experience with young talents. The summer school provides a space for such an exchange, and we believe it will contribute to shaping ideas that will help change the world for the better.”

The inception of the Summer School of Machine Learning originated from the visionary minds of three Romanian scientists associated with DeepMind. Co-organized by Doina Precup, Razvan Pascanu, and Viorica Patraucean, the inaugural summer school commenced in Romania in 2018. Each year, the event traverses to a different country across Central and Eastern Europe, offering invaluable learning opportunities to aspiring individuals. Following successful editions in Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Lithuania, the Summer School has now made its debut in Slovakia.

“We focus on a high-quality program that includes world experts and a selection process that emphasizes the contribution and potential impact of the school on the participant. We were honored when ESET approached us with a partnership proposal for the 2023 event. We are very much looking forward to getting to know the Slovak AI community better and contribute to putting Slovakia on the map of international events in the field of Artificial Intelligence,” said Viorica Patraucean, one of the Summer School organizers.

In addition to ESET, the event has garnered support from AI Slovakia, the national platform for artificial intelligence development, and the Technical University of Košice. The University’s Department of Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence, a renowned academic partner, possesses extensive experience in education and research, and was the first institution in Slovakia to offer dedicated studies in Artificial Intelligence.

ESET is excited to collaborate with DeepMind and other esteemed partners in hosting the Eastern European Summer School of Machine Learning, fostering knowledge sharing, and empowering the next generation of AI enthusiasts.