Chris Bernhardt | Beautiful Math | Talks at Google

In this episode of Talks at Google, Sanders Kleinfeld interviews Chris Bernhardt, a professor emeritus of mathematics and author of "Beautiful Math," about the surprisingly simple ideas behind the digital revolution. They discuss the mathematics behind data encoding, compression, error correction, and encryption, highlighting the foundational work of mathematicians like Claude Shannon and Alan Turing. Bernhardt explains the key principles of information theory, including the difference between analog and digital data, and delves into the algorithms used for compression and encryption. The conversation also explores the concept of computation through Turing machines and touches on the topic of machine learning, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying algorithms and avoiding anthropomorphization of AI. The discussion concludes with audience Q&A, addressing topics such as the impact of AI on mathematics and recommendations for further reading on mathematical concepts.