An ‘electronic nose’ to sniff out COVID-19 Through a newly funded grant, researchers across the University, including Lyle Ungar, are developing a device that can rapidly detect COVID-19 based on the disease’s unique odor profile. Computer and Information Science caret-arrow Ubiquity of Data
How Artificial Intelligence Can Slow the Spread of COVID-19 Hamsa Bastani spoke with Wharton Business Daily about a new machine learning approach to COVID-19 testing at the Greek border. Operations Information and Decisions caret-arrow Social Norms for Algorithms
What is an “algorithm”? It depends whom you ask In a recent MIT Tech Review op-ed, Kristian Lum examines the effect of unclear definitions of the term “algorithm” and emphasizes that focus on these systems should be shifted from their design to their impact. Computer and Information Science caret-arrow Social Norms for Algorithms
Fostering the next generation of Black philosophers at Penn Anita Allen comments on how in the past decade, the department has become a hub for race theory and a welcoming environment for a diverse group of young academics, mentored by those who have paved the way before them. Law Philosophy caret-arrow Consensus and Contagion in Society
Logistics of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout Penn experts, including Gad Allon, break down the steps that go into vaccine distribution and the challenges that come with them, from cold-storage transit to making sure vaccine administers have the right syringe. Operations Information and Decisions caret-arrow Ubiquity of Data
Tell Me Something Funny Emily Falk's tip of the week for The Character Lab: Humor helps people remember information and makes them want to talk about it. Communication Marketing Psychology caret-arrow Consensus and Contagion in Society
Artificial Neural Nets Finally Yield Clues to How Brains Learn The learning algorithm that enables the runaway success of deep neural networks doesn’t work in biological brains, but researchers are finding alternatives that could. Konrad Kording comments on how networks of biological neurons may learn by studying algorithms in artificial deep networks in this Quanta Magazine article. Bioengineering Neuroscience Psychology caret-arrow Evolution, Emergence and the Brain
CHIBE Q&A: Damon Centola Damon Centola spoke with Penn's Center for Health Incentives & Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) about his new book, Change: How to Make Big Things Happen. Communication Sociology caret-arrow Consensus and Contagion in Society
Who Should Stop Unethical A.I.? At artificial-intelligence conferences, researchers are increasingly alarmed by what they see. Michael Kearns and Aaron Roth comment on some of the challenges in the self-regulated world of AI, especially when it comes to bias and the application of AI in recognition and identity, in this recent New Yorker article. Computer and Information Science caret-arrow Social Norms for Algorithms
Dissecting chaos: An interdisciplinary look at the attack on the U.S. Capitol Faculty from five schools at the Penn, including Damon Centola, took part in a virtual panel discussion to unpack the policies, messages, and conditions that led to the events of January 6, and to explore how the country moves forward. Communication Sociology caret-arrow Consensus and Contagion in Society
