The Power of Peers: Who Influences Your Health?

“People care about what others think across all different age groups—and that influences how much they value different ideas and behaviors,” says Emily Falk in a recent NIH News in Health newsletter on how social networks affect decision making.

Communication
Marketing
Psychology

Consensus and Contagion in Society

How Computationally Complex Is a Single Neuron?

Computational neuroscientists taught an artificial neural network to imitate a biological neuron. The result offers a new way to think about the complexity of single brain cells. Konrad Kording comments in this Quanta Magazine article.

Bioengineering
Neuroscience

Evolution, Emergence and the Brain

Winners and Losers: The Psychology of Foreign Trade

In her July 2021 book, "Winners and Losers: The Psychology of Foreign Trade," Diana Mutz explores why people's attitudes on trade differ from their own self-interest. In this video, Mutz gives a preview of the book.

Communication
Political Science

Now That Machines Can Learn, Can They Unlearn?

Privacy concerns about AI systems are growing, so researchers are testing whether they can remove sensitive data without retraining the system from scratch. Aaron Roth comments on machine unlearning in this Wired article.

Computer and Information Science

Social Norms for Algorithms

HIPAA at 25 Remains a Work in Progress

HIPAA has delivered meaningful benefits to consumers but still needs updating to address new and emerging privacy challenges, writes Anita Allen in her recent Regulatory Review op-ed.

Law
Philosophy

Ubiquity of Data

Lyft And Uber Prices Are High. Wait Times Are Long And Drivers Are Scarce

In this recent NPR article, Gad Allon comments on the new ride-hailing app norm: pricey fares and extended waits, as Lyft and Uber grapple with a driver shortage that has riders feeling the pain and the companies sweetening the pot to entice more drivers on the road.

Operations Information and Decisions

Ubiquity of Data

A New Digital Age Privacy Protection Agency Holds Promise

Data privacy regulation in the United States is overdue for an upgrade. Anita Allen addresses the potential ramifications of the Data Protection Act of 2021, which would strengthen public safeguards over big data.

Law
Philosophy

Ubiquity of Data

Penn Engineers Help Launch TILOS, a New NSF Artificial Intelligence Research Institute Focused on Optimization

Through a $20 Million grant, the National Science Foundation has established the Institute for Learning-enabled Optimization at Scale, or TILOS. As one of TILOS’ partner institutions, Penn Engineering will contribute to its research on how algorithm-based systems can learn and improve upon themselves as they work.

Electrical and Systems Engineering
Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Social Norms for Algorithms

Well-connected members of tight-knit groups spread controversial ideas much more readily than “influencers”

The people who spread new and controversial ideas—changes in diet, exercise routine, political leaning, or even attitudes about vaccination—may not be the Kim Kardashians and Paris Hiltons. According to Damon Centola's recent study, those with the most actual influence are often on the periphery of the social network.

Communication
Sociology

Consensus and Contagion in Society

The Question Medical AI Can’t Answer

A good clinician consultant should be able to explain why they arrived at a particular recommendation. Unfortunately, modern AI algorithms are rarely able to provide an answer to the question of why they think an answer is a good one. Jason Moore addresses the use of AI in health care in this Scientific American op-ed.

Biomedical Informatics

Social Norms for Algorithms