Studying Wikipedia browsing habits to learn how people learn

A collaborative team of researchers led by Dale Zhou and Dani Bassett analyzed the information-seeking styles of more than 480,000 people from 50 countries and found that gender and education inequality track different types of knowledge exploration. Their findings suggest potential cultural drivers of curiosity and learning.

• Bioengineering
• Electrical and Systems Engineering

Vijay Kumar: The Bot Whisperer

Vijay Kumar has long been on the cutting edge of drone technology: his lab invented some of the earliest flying drones. Now he's being recognized as one of Philadelphia Magazine's 150 Most Influential People in Philly.

• Computer and Information Science
• Electrical and Systems Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Introducing the Penn AI Council

The newly established Penn AI Council consists of five faculty members collaborating to enhance visibility and impact of AI research across Penn. Members include Warren Center affiliates René Vidal, Eric Bradlow, Bhuvnesh Jain, and Duncan Watts.

• Communication
• Computer and Information Science
• Electrical and Systems Engineering
• Marketing
• Physics and Astronomy
• Radiology

What are mechanisms? Unpacking the term is key to progress in neuroscience

Mechanism is a common and powerful concept, invoked in grant calls and publication guidelines. But scientists use it in different ways, making it difficult to clarify standards in the field. Dani Bassett asked nine scientists to weigh in.

• Bioengineering
• Electrical and Systems Engineering

Pennsylvania’s AI Advisory Committee

Cary Coglianese has been appointed to the Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence by the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission. The committee, established to explore the impact and potential of AI in Pennsylvania, comprises experts from academia, industry, and government.

• Law
• Political Science

Takeaways: The new mini moon

On Sunday, Sept. 29, Earth welcomed 2024 PT5, a “mini-moon” temporarily captured by the planet’s orbit that’s set to depart on Monday, Nov. 25. To understand more about this phenomenon, Penn Today caught up with astronomy professor Bhuvnesh Jain.

• Physics and Astronomy

Celebrating the dedication of Amy Gutmann Hall

On a breezy, overcast early fall day, members of the Penn community gathered to dedicate the University’s new center for data science and artificial intelligence: Amy Gutmann Hall.

Why AI Consumes So Much Energy and What Might Be Done About It

Benjamin C. Lee spoke with Nvidia’s director of accelerated computing to explain how and why AI leads to increased electricity use and explore strategies to limit AI’s energy impact on this episode of the Kleinman Center's Energy Policy Now podcast.

• Computer and Information Science
• Electrical and Systems Engineering

Without Guardrails, Generative AI Can Harm Education

A new study co-authored by Hamsa Bastani reveals that using generative AI improves student performance, but also makes it harder for students to learn and acquire new skills.

• Operations Information and Decisions

University of Pennsylvania launches Penn Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy

The Center, led by co-PIs Christopher Yoo and Duncan Watts, will bring together six Schools at Penn with $10 million in support from Knight Foundation and the University. At the outset, the Center will propel research involving media, technology, and democracy within Penn.

• Communication
• Computer and Information Science
• Law