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PODCAST
Pioneer of brain research and the development of artificial intelligence: The neurobiologist and physicist Prof. Dr. Christoph von der Malsburg.
Image: Institute for Cultural Studies, Essen.
Ghost from the machine
Will AI achieve consciousness?
The detailed conversation with
Christoph von der Malsburg
Updated: August 9, 2025, 4:46 PM | Reading time: 5 min.
Broadcast from August 8, 2025, 8:15 PM | Duration: 60 min.
Contributors: Christoph von der Malsburg, Phillipp Krüger and Marcel Schütz
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First episode of the research group's new podcast: "KInote"
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Inspiring conversation with the renowned neuroscientist
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Fascinating insights into biography and significant discoveries
He grew up on an old estate in the idyllic Habichtswald, the Grimm Brothers' fairytale land around Kassel. His family's roots on the North Hessian ridge stretch back to the High Middle Ages – including the ruins of the eponymous castle. Malsburg . His biography offers an interesting contrast: he always had his eyes on the technology of the future, fascinated from an early age by the mind and computers . As a teenager, he came across a magazine article that has captivated him to this day: What is thinking in the human brain?
The full discussion in the new science podcast KInote:
Learning More About Christoph von der Malsburg
In the pilot episode of the new science podcast KInote, we speak with Prof. Dr. Christoph von der Malsburg, a leading figure in neurobiology and neuroinformatics. Throughout his life, he has been devoted to uncovering the mysteries of the brain, pursuing the question of what these insights imply for the development of artificial intelligence. Von der Malsburg’s research revolves around a central theme: pattern recognition and self-organization in the brain.
From the Habichtswald via Geneva to California
His theses on neuronal structure and function have not only shaped the neurosciences, but have also exerted a lasting influence on debates surrounding machine learning and consciousness. However, von der Malsburg takes a critical stance toward the prevailing paradigm in contemporary AI research. In his view, achieving a breakthrough toward genuinely intelligent systems would require the scientific community to pursue fundamentally new approaches. What he means by this is explained in detail in the podcast, which will be released bimonthly on YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms.
The conversation also revisits key stages of an impressive academic career. After studying physics and spending time at CERN in Geneva, von der Malsburg completed a doctorate in particle physics. He subsequently held professorships at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and at Ruhr University Bochum. Throughout his career, he maintained strong interdisciplinary collaborations and received numerous awards. He has served—and continues to serve—as a Senior Fellow at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) and, currently, at ETH Zurich.
Can the Mind Enter the Computer?
The podcast explores the relationship between human cognition and artificial intelligence. Is consciousness primarily a matter of organizational structure and complexity? Or does an insurmountable boundary separate brain and machine? Must our very concept of consciousness itself be subjected to critical reconsideration? Listeners can expect an intellectually stimulating hour with a researcher who has spent decades working to decipher the “mind machine” within our heads.
The first episode offers insights into the possibilities of computational brain modeling as well as into the challenges that would need to be overcome if artificial intelligence were to be developed into a consciousness-like structure—an outcome that von der Malsburg considers possible. Beyond his theoretical engagement with AI and the brain, von der Malsburg continues to value, as he did in his childhood, long walks as a source of new ideas. He also plays the clarinet on a daily basis. The conversation is conducted by Philipp Krüger and Marcel Schütz from the KIWIT research group.
Last updated: 12 August 2025