Dr. Gašper Beguš

Biography

Gašper Beguš investigates intelligence—human, animal, and artificial—and explores the unfolding of language. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. Beguš focuses on interpretable artificial intelligence and combines insights from linguistics, cognitive science, machine learning, and neuroscience to develop techniques that enhance the understanding of the inner workings of AI. His research leads efforts such as developing models that mimic infant speech learning from raw audio, and examining sound patterns of sperm whales, showing analogies to human vowels. Beguš’s findings have garnered attention from esteemed publications like The Economist and National Geographic. He plays a significant role in making neural networks more transparent through collaborations with industry partners and serves as the College Principal of Bowles Hall, UC Berkeley's oldest residential college. He regularly shares his expertise as an invited speaker at various prominent institutions including NYU Stern School of Business and the Santa Fe Institute. His innovative models have also inspired projects at La Biennale di Venezia, showcasing interdisciplinary engagement with young audiences.

Research Interests