Bots, biases, and binge watching: How AI shapes the modern world Bots, biases, and binge watching: How AI shapes the modern world A three-part series and podcast delves into the nuts and bolts of algorithms, legal and ethical questions, and ways artificial intelligence guides decision making.
The virtual assistant The virtual assistant Artificial intelligence has permeated many corners of life, from consumer purchasing and media consumption to health care—sometimes in ways we don’t even know.
The brain in the machine The brain in the machine Insights into how computers learn, the current challenges of artificial intelligence research, and what the future holds for how machines might shape society in the future.
The human driver The human driver As the ability to harness the power of artificial intelligence grows, so does the need to consider the difficult decisions and trade-offs humans make all the time about privacy, bias, ethics, and safety.
Is treatment forever? Success of gene therapy for inherited blindness depends on timing Canine retinas after successful gene augmentation therapy with RPE65 (red-labeling of the RPE cell layer). When eyes are treated at a stage when photoreceptor numbers are close to normal, there is an arrest of retinal degeneration, and cone (labeled in green) and rod photoreceptors retain normal structure for at least four years following treatment (upper image). If degeneration is ongoing at the time of treatment, there is substantial and progressive loss of photoreceptors in spite of robust RPE65 expression (lower image). (Image: Aguirre Laboratory/Penn Vet) Is treatment forever? Success of gene therapy for inherited blindness depends on timing An FDA-approved gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis, an inherited vision disorder with a childhood onset and progressive nature, has improved patients’ sight. But new research underscores the importance of further investigation to halt the progression of the disorder.
Crowdsourcing 10,000 years of land use To predict what will happen in the future, its important to understand what happened in the past. Thats the idea behind ArchaeoGLOBE, a project that looks at land use around the world—like in the Italian Alps, seen here—during the past 10,000 years. (Photo courtesy: Lucas Stephens) Crowdsourcing 10,000 years of land use More than 250 archaeologists from around the world contributed their knowledge to ArchaeoGLOBE, an effort to better understand the prevalence of agriculture, pastoralism, and hunting and gathering at different points in human history.
No evidence that testosterone reduces cognitive empathy No evidence that testosterone reduces cognitive empathy In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that testosterone administration did not affect cognitive empathy, a measure of the ability to recognize another’s feelings and motivations. The finding calls into question the theory that the symptoms of autism are caused by a hyper-masculinized brain.
Where ethics, welfare, and sustainability meet swine Where ethics, welfare, and sustainability meet swine At New Bolton Center’s model pig farm, free-roaming sows are implanted with RFID chips, nourished by organic feed, and powered by solar energy.
Dragon boating, on the world stage It was only three years ago that SEAS graduate student Barry Slaff (bottom left, waving hand) first tried dragon boat racing. This week he’s competing with paddlers from around the country at the World Dragon Boat Championships in Thailand. (Photo courtesy: Barry Slaff) Dragon boating, on the world stage Computer and information science doctoral student Barry Slaff trains six days a week for dragon boating on the Schuylkill River, and is headed to Thailand to compete in the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.