AI Is on the Rise, and So Is the Environmental Impact of the Data Centers That Drive It

Over the past year, the environmental consequences of AI—specifically its most popular generative platforms like ChatGPT—have been under intense scrutiny. “AI uses energy, and it doesn’t care where that energy is coming from,” said Benjamin C. Lee to Smithsonian Magazine.

Computer and Information Science
Electrical and Systems Engineering

Ubiquity of Data

Penn Engineering: The Why Behind the How

“AI demands an interdisciplinary approach,” says Chris Callison-Burch. That philosophy shapes his teaching as much as his research, with students experiencing the exact same rigor online as they would on campus.

Computer and Information Science

Ubiquity of Data

The Penn AI Symposium: Global Ideas Shaping Humanity

The inaugural Penn AI Symposium is a landmark event that gathers leading thinkers who will share their explorations at the frontiers of artificial intelligence. The symposium is hosted by Penn AI, and will take place on October 10th-11th. Speakers include Vijay Kumar, Bhuvnesh Jain, René Vidal, Eric Bradlow, and Duncan Watts.

Computer and Information Science
Economics
Education
Electrical and Systems Engineering
Marketing
Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Operations Information and Decisions
Physics and Astronomy
Radiology
Statistics

Ubiquity of Data

AIRFoundry: AI for RNA Discovery and Synthesis

The NSF-AIRFoundry is a National Science Foundation-funded BioFoundry that aims to transform how RNA is designed, synthesized and delivered in order to democratize their use in all areas of biotechnology. In this ASSET Center seminar, Zack Ives describes AIRFoundry's early experiences and innovations.

Computer and Information Science

Ubiquity of Data

Labubunomics: The Economics of Pop Mart’s Labubu Craze

Pop Mart’s “ugly-cute” elf Labubu has exploded from niche art toy to global craze, driving revenues to nearly $2 billion in 2024. Whether Labubu becomes a lasting cultural icon or a fleeting fad, Pop Mart has built a powerful model of scarcity, spectacle, and surprise that could outlive its star mascot, writes Gad Allon.

Operations Information and Decisions

Ubiquity of Data

Sustainable Computing: Can AI Be Energy Efficient?

As AI advances at breakneck speed, experts at Penn are urgently trying to address new challenges. Arthur van Benthem and Benjamin C. Lee have assembled a multidisciplinary team of scientists, industry professionals, and policy leaders to explore solutions.

Computer and Information Science
Electrical and Systems Engineering

Ubiquity of Data

The Robot Hype Is Real — But So Is the Problem

We’re promised a future of robot helpers and intelligent machines — so where are they? In a recent episode of DEEP Podcast, Vijay Kumar spoke with Ben Kaplan about how AI is reshaping the future of robots, why aerial drones still struggle, what swarm intelligence can teach us, and the real-world impact of robots in medicine.

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

Ubiquity of Data

AI & Data for Disaster Management

AI for Good at Meta, Direct Relief/CrisisReady, and Duncan Watts' Computational Social Science Lab brought together elected officials, emergency response agencies, researchers, and private sector leaders to explore how cutting-edge AI and novel data sources can enhance disaster preparedness.

Communication
Computer and Information Science
Operations Information and Decisions

Ubiquity of Data

Trump’s AI Plan Calls for Massive Data Centers. Here’s How It May Affect Energy in the US

President Trump’s plan to boost AI and build data centers across the U.S. could speed up a building boom that was already expected to strain the nation’s ability to power it. In a recent AP News article, Benjamin C. Lee shares an informed perspective on how the building of massive data centers will impact the energy needs of the US.

Computer and Information Science
Electrical and Systems Engineering

Ubiquity of Data

Videos From the Amazon Reveal an Unexpected Animal Friendship

Screenwriters in search of the next Timon and Pumbaa may want to look to the Amazon, where unlikely ocelot-opossum duos have been filmed hanging out together. “We tend to underestimate how much cooperation there is in nature,” said Erol Akçay to the New York Times.

Biology

Ubiquity of Data