Google DeepMind Symposium Unveils AI Research Programme for Global South Opportunities

A three-day research programme, the Google DeepMind APAC Research Symposium 2026, is set to bring together artificial intelligence researchers from across the Asia-Pacific region. Organised by Google DeepMind in collaboration with Google Cloud, this symposium aims to provide participants with opportunities to explore major developments in AI and engage with leading experts.

The programme will feature separate sessions for faculty members and students, creating a platform for both established researchers and emerging AI talent to exchange ideas and learn from each other. Faculty Day on 28 October 2026 is dedicated exclusively to invited academic faculty members from the APAC region, while Student Days on 29-30 October 2026 will focus on selected students and invited speakers.

The symposium’s agenda includes keynote presentations from leading experts, research showcases highlighting emerging AI work, interactive roundtable discussions, and exploration of AI systems and infrastructure. Faculty Day is designed to facilitate discussions around emerging research directions, infrastructure, and developments in artificial intelligence among the region’s top researchers.

Student Days will provide high-calibre undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students with opportunities to learn directly from global AI experts through a combination of technical and interactive sessions. The student programme includes deep-dive lectures on emerging AI research, poster showcases featuring research and ideas, mentorship panels with experienced AI researchers, and exposure to cutting-edge developments across major AI research areas.

The symposium will explore four key research tracks: Agentic AI, Multimodal AI, AI for World, and Systems for AI. These tracks cover important areas of modern artificial intelligence, including systems capable of performing tasks with greater autonomy, processing multiple forms of information, applying AI to real-world challenges, and developing the infrastructure required to support increasingly capable AI systems.

The programme is tailored to members of the academic and research community across the APAC region, with different participation arrangements for faculty and students. The student component is particularly relevant to undergraduate students studying AI-related disciplines, master’s students pursuing advanced study in AI fields, PhD students conducting research in artificial intelligence, and emerging researchers interested in learning from leading global AI experts.

The Google DeepMind APAC Research Symposium provides an opportunity for participants to gain exposure to frontier AI research while engaging with researchers working on some of the field’s most important technical challenges. Participants can benefit from expert-led learning, research showcases, mentorship discussions, and interaction with a broader AI research community.

Faculty members will have opportunities to exchange ideas, examine emerging research challenges, and engage directly with other researchers working across the region. Students will be able to learn about cutting-edge developments in AI tools for businesses and explore how these technologies can contribute to real-world applications and societal outcomes.

The symposium is expected to provide students with valuable exposure to current research directions while enabling them to connect with researchers and emerging professionals from across the APAC region. This event marks a significant opportunity for participants to gain insights into the latest AI developments, methodologies, technological limitations, and areas requiring further investigation in the field of artificial intelligence.

The Google DeepMind APAC Research Symposium will take place from 28-30 October 2026, with Faculty Day on 28 October and Student Days on 29-30 October. The symposium is open to members of the academic and research community across the APAC region, with different participation arrangements for faculty and students.

Participants can benefit from expert-led learning, research showcases, mentorship discussions, and interaction with a broader AI research community. This event provides an opportunity for emerging researchers to better understand current AI developments, research methodologies, technological limitations, and areas requiring further investigation in the field of artificial intelligence.