PAIR Distinguished Lecture by Prof. ZHANG Jie (23 Apr 2026)

Prof. Jie Zhang • Member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering • Chair Professor • Faculty of Business for Science and Technology • The University of Science and Technology of China Topic: Machine Listening: Extending AI from Vision to Sound and Vibration Sensing Abstract: While advances in artificial intelligence have largely centered on vision-based technologies, the complementary domain of machine listening — the machine interpretation of sound and vibration signals — remains underexplored. Just as human perception relies on both vision and hearing, integrating these modalities can provide a more complete understanding of complex environments. The development of machine listening directly impacts robotics, autonomous driving, and a broad range of industries. Broadband seismic sensors extend auditory capabilities far beyond human perception, capturing both acoustic pressure waves in air or fluids and elastic waves propagating through solids across a wide frequency spectrum. These sensors can detect vibrations as subtle as those produced by a pencil breaking, enabling real-time monitoring through the integration of physics-based models, deep learning, and large-scale data analysis. We introduce a joint visual–seismic sensing framework that generates detailed digital records of transportation systems, infrastructure health, human activities, and environmental processes. This “superhuman hearing” capability opens pathways to transformative applications. By bridging vision and listening, machine listening advances the frontier of AI-enabled sensing, fostering societal resilience and sustainability. Biography: Prof. Jie Zhang is a Chair Professor of the Faculty of Business for Science and Technology at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He earned his BS from USTC (1986) and Ph.D. in from MIT (1996), and founded several high-tech companies. He received the STAR Award from the EPA (1994), the Reginald Fessenden Award from SEG (2012). In 2015, Fast Company ranked Dr. Zhang No. 1 on its list of the "100 Most Creative People in China." He has taught Geophysics at MIT, Stanford, and USTC. In 2020, he was elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Dr. Zhang has also served in several prestigious roles, including Vice President of SEG, member of MIT’s Visiting Committee, member of the Board of Governors at the Asia School of Business, and member of the SEG Foundation Board. Upcoming PAIR Events: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/news-an... PAIR Facebook :   / polyu.pair   PAIR Instagram :   / pair_polyu   LinkedIn :   / pair-polyu-47224722b   X :   / pair_polyu   Pinterest :   / pair_polyu   YouTube Channel:    / @pairpolyu3024   WeChat : https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/-/media... Xiaohongshu : https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/prof...