ELLIS Distinguished Lecture: Masashi Sugiyama

On May 11, 2026, Masashi Sugiyama (RIKEN AIP/University of Tokyo) will give a lecture on Machine Learning from Imperfect Information: Foundations of Robust Intelligence in the Era of Foundation Models. The lecture is hosted by Samuel Kaski (ELLIS Institute Finland and Aalto University). A hybrid ELLIS Institute-RIKEN AIP workshop will take place on the morning of May 11.

Date and time 

May 11, 2026, 13:00-14:00 EEST

Location

1501 Sklodowska-Curie, Kide, Aalto University (Konemiehentie 1, Espoo)

Abstract

In modern machine learning, acquiring vast amounts of high-quality labeled data is increasingly difficult and costly. While leveraging unlabeled data offers a potential alternative, it often lacks the necessary reliability for mission-critical applications. To bridge this gap, learning from "imperfect" supervision has emerged as a highly promising frontier. In this talk, I will review our recent advancements in developing robust frameworks for imperfect supervision, focusing on weakly supervised learning, noisy label learning, and transfer learning. I will conclude by discussing the strategic evolution of machine learning research in the transformative era of large foundation models.
 

Bio

Masashi Sugiyama received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, in 2001. After serving as an assistant and associate professor at the same institute, he became a professor at the University of Tokyo in 2014. Since 2016, he has also served as the director of the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project. His research interests include theories and algorithms of machine learning. He was awarded the Japan Academy Medal in 2017 and the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan in 2022.