How AI 'sees' the world – what happened when we trained a deep learning model to identify poverty

Researchers fed an advanced AI algorithm with satellite photographs to see if it could identify areas of poverty and it interpreted the data through abstract images.

Thorsteinn Rögnvaldsson, Professor, School of Information Technology, Halmstad University • conversation
Nov. 27, 2023 ~8 min

Why humans can't trust AI: You don't know how it works, what it's going to do or whether it'll serve your interests

People can trust each other because they understand how the human mind works, can predict people’s behavior, and assume that most people have a moral sense. None of these things are true of AI.

Mark Bailey, Faculty Member and Chair, Cyber Intelligence and Data Science, National Intelligence University • conversation
Sept. 13, 2023 ~8 min


Explained: How to tell if artificial intelligence is working the way we want it to

“Interpretability methods” seek to shed light on how machine-learning models make predictions, but researchers say to proceed with caution.

Adam Zewe | MIT News Office • mit
July 22, 2022 ~11 min

How QR codes work and what makes them dangerous – a computer scientist explains

Here’s what happens when you scan one of those ubiquitous two-dimensional black-and-white patterns.

Scott Ruoti, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University of Tennessee • conversation
April 7, 2022 ~6 min

A pediatrician explains a spike in ear infections this summer after COVID-19 restrictions lifted

With mask-wearing and kids out of school last winter, viral upper respiratory infections decreased. However, clinicians have seen a return of respiratory viruses this summer and ear infections are up too.

Abigail Kumral, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia • conversation
Sept. 21, 2021 ~7 min

What's a 100-year flood? A hydrologist explains

Flood plain statistics can be confusing. There are better ways to think about the risk of severe weather than 100-year storm or flood.

Robert Mace, Executive Director of the Meadows Center for Water and Environment, Texas State University • conversation
June 17, 2021 ~4 min

Are people with pets less likely to die if they catch the coronavirus?

Pets might not protect us from the coronavirus, but they can help us get better.

Clarissa M. Uttley, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, Learning, and Curriculum, Plymouth University • conversation
April 27, 2020 ~4 min

Explained: Detecting the threat of nuclear weapons | MIT News

Professor of nuclear science and engineering Scott Kemp describes the science behind the search for clandestine nuclear sites.

Meg Murphy | School of Engineering • mit
June 8, 2018 ~8 min


Explained: Neural networks | MIT News

Ballyhooed artificial-intelligence technique known as “deep learning” revives 70-year-old idea.

Larry Hardesty | MIT News Office • mit
April 14, 2017 ~10 min

Explained: Greenhouse gases | MIT News

Carbon dioxide isn’t the only one that matters, and the gases vary widely in potency and duration.

David L. Chandler | MIT News Office • mit
Jan. 30, 2017 ~9 min

/

2