How does an artificial intelligence take decisions? And does our brain really work so differently? Advanced algorithms now forecast the weather and analyse complex data, yet they often remain hard to interpret. Three PhD students guide the audience through the new intelligences, from AI to neuroscience, looking at more transparent models, explainable predictions and the workings of the nervous system. A tour of research supported by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021–27, exploring how thought arises and what it means for everyday life.