Welcome to the Tommyverse

Tommy Hills BSc.

Tommy Hills is a passionate STEM communicator, based in Milton Keynes, with his blend of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Education seamlessly intertwining with the world of performing and creative arts. Currently, Tommy wears multiple hats as a dedicated Masters of Science by Research student at the University of Kent, Teacher of Computing through the Teach First Training Programme, enthusiastic STEM communicator and moonlights as a PowerPoint comedian. Tommy's love of stand-up comedy, working with artificial intelligence and exploring the history and nerdy quirks of our mathematical world, culminate in fun and engaging talks and performances, designed to show the full extent of creativity within Computing. What sets Tommy apart is his deep appreciation for performance, historical insights, and the fascinating quirks of the mathematical and computational universe. His diverse interests come together to create captivating talks and performances that are both enjoyable and educational. The mission is to demonstrate that mathematics and computer science extend far beyond the confines of the classroom, proving that they can be both fun and incredibly useful in our everyday lives.

About

Research

Tommy is a dedicated, determined and dynamic researcher at the University of Kent, delving into the creative potential of LLMs (Large Language Models); investigating whether these advanced AI models, such as Claude 3, Google Gemini and GPT-4 can prove adept at writing stand-up comedy material. Tommy's work has not gone unnoticed, getting involved in the world of public engagement, sharing insights about their research in various forums. Tommy has worked with BBC News South East, and BBC Radio 1 with consultation about the applications of Generative AI in various places. Tommy is not just a researcher; they are a passionate advocate for the dissemination of knowledge and information. They have taken the stage to deliver captivating talks and STEM presentations, aiming to enlighten, educate, and showcase the intriguing intersection of artificial intelligence and comedy. Check out some related photos in the Gallery.

Performance

Tommy is not only an academic but also a seasoned performer with a passion for captivating audiences through the art of public speaking, stand-up comedy, and spoken-word poetry. Within the realm of stand-up comedy, Tommy has carved out a distinctive niche with their unique style. Known for their love of character comedy infused with the creative use of PowerPoint presentations, earning them the well-deserved moniker of "PPT, the PowerPoint Tommy." This innovative approach adds a dynamic and educational twist to their comedy, delighting audiences with both humour and insightful visuals.

Tommy's unique comedic style and commitment to entertaining while educating set them apart as a multifaceted performer and academic, making them a standout in both worlds.

Events

Tommy has carved out a unique niche in the world of STEM communication. Through their previous work at the University of Kent, and affiliation with the STEM Ambassadors scheme, armed with a wealth of knowledge and a flair for the spectacular, Tommy aims to make scientific concepts engaging, inspiring and entertaining for a variety of audiences.

In their rolodex of talks, expect to find a selection of lectures, talks, stand-up comedy shows and live events

Check out some related photos in the Gallery.

Tommy's Events

The Ridiculous Quirks of a Mathematically Imagined World

What is Mathematics? A boring school subject. A random selection of number laws... No!

Mathematics is like poetry filled with ridiculous quirks and wild stories.

Prepare to be bewildered or perhaps even learn something.

Can AI Stand-Up?

AI-generated content is taking over the creative world. But can large-language models replace stand-up comedians.

Watch Tommy explore the process of generating stand-up comedy with AI and whether human comedians are outdated.

2035 and the Future of AI

Everyone says that AI is going to destroy our future, but is that truly the case.

Let Tommy guide you through the current state of what AI can do and present a more hopeful future about where it could be heading.

Let's change how we make presentations

Making PowerPoint Presentations manually is so 2020. Let's explore how we can use AI to make our presentations for us.

Tommy's code for combining LLM, Stable Diffusion and the Reveal.js Framework will change the way you make presentations.

Gallery

A gallery of events, talks and other photography

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BarCamp '23 - Demonstration of AI Stand-Up

Ridiculous Quirks - Lecture @ University of Kent

Can AI Stand-Up? - Research Talk @ University of Kent

Can AI Stand-Up? - Pint of Science Festival '23