Wharton’s Kevin Werbach described the conference as a “reflection of the incredible work on AI policy and governance happening across the University.”
Michael Horowitz, faculty director of Perry World House and Richard Perry professor, one of the co-organizers, said that “bringing together this community will help us work together and figure out how to have even more impact through our research, teaching, and engagement in the coming years. We will build on this as we think about the right approaches to governance and policy in the boardroom, by governments around the world, and in international negotiations.” Co-organizer Kevin Werbach, Liem Sioe Liong/First Pacific Company professor at the Wharton School—who runs the Wharton Accountable AI Lab—described the conference as a “reflection of the incredible work on AI policy and governance happening across the University. Penn’s AI research is already impacting the world, and Penn can be a leader in engaging with the risks and challenges that AI poses.”
In panels throughout the day, Penn faculty discussed their research in relation to key AI topics, such as AI oversight, AI policy, the social impacts of AI, and teaching AI. On the first panel, focused on the impact of AI on society, Penn Engineering professor Chris Callison-Burch described the AI class he teaches each year for 500 students and the way developing and using AI tools has had to change over time due to rapid advances in AI technology. Other discussions focused on the regulatory environment both domestically and internationally, the general consensus being that government generally trails the cutting edge of technology, which can make regulation challenging.
Scholars also discussed the need for greater AI literacy, potential risks surrounding AI safety that might require new regulatory approaches, the need for greater AI literacy inside and outside government, and regulating some potential impacts of AI, which often involves determining how to enforce existing regulations in the age of AI.
Understanding order to disorder at the atomic scale opens possibilities for next-generation electronic devices
A Penn team has developed insight into the chemical and geometric mechanisms underlying the synthesis of new 2D materials, paving the way for next-gen devices, biomedical applications, and cleaner, quicker energy conversion and storage.
Exposure to air pollution worsens Alzheimer’s disease
New research from Penn Medicine finds living in areas with high concentration of air pollution is associated with increased buildup of amyloid and tau proteins in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, accelerating cognitive decline.
Penn buildings achieve LEED certifications, showcasing commitment to sustainability
Three recent building projects at the University of Pennsylvania have earned LEED Platinum, Gold, and Silver certifications, underscoring Penn’s ongoing commitment to sustainable design and construction.
What stiffening lung tissue reveals about the earliest stages of fibrosis
A Penn Engineering team has targeted the lung’s extracellular matrix to better understand early fibrosis by triggering the formation of special chemical bonds that increase tissue stiffness in specific locations, mimicking the first physical changes that may lead to lung fibrosis.
