Mick Grierson

Professor Mick Grierson is a Professor of Creative Computing and Computer Science who has worked at the intersection of AI and the Creative Industries for 25 years. Originally a filmmaker and musician, he has led nationally funded projects totalling over £16.5 million in Creative AI and Machine Learning, including the UK’s first Creative Deep Learning research project, MIMIC (2018), and the upcoming UK foundation model project, MIMETIC. He is one of the founders of the discipline of Creative Computing and co-founder of UAL Creative Computing Institute (CCI). His research lab produced some of the first Creative AI research, including the first commercial video artwork using Deep Learning (AutoEncoding Bladerunner, 2016 - Terence Broad), the first real-time interactive video generation system using Deep Learning (Learning to See, 2017, Memo Akten), and the first professional quality generative audio system (MAGNet, 2016). This was used by Massive Attack in 2018 to make the first CD quality neural synthesis full-length work, Mezzanine Vs MAGNET, which toured for over 5 years as part of the Barbican's "More Than Human" exhibition. He was also technical consultant and software designer for Christian Marclay's "The Clock", which won the Golden Lion at the 2011 Venice Biennale.

Jen Sykes

Jen Sykes is a creative technologist and educator based in Glasgow, Scotland. Having graduated from the MFA in Computational Arts at Goldsmiths, University of London in 2012, her work spans interactive art installations, digital service design, and the fabrication of educational electronic hardware. She is the co-founder of Considerate Digital, a multidisciplinary studio that brings design and engineering together to take ideas from concept to prototype. Recent commissions include the Turner Prize at Tate Britain, Government Digital Services, Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art, and Sonica Festival.

Jen has lectured in Physical Computing, Interactive Prototyping, and Creative Applications of Machine Learning, teaching internationally at UAL's Creative Computing Institute, Glasgow School of Art, the Royal Danish Academy, Umeå Institute of Design, and the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design.