August 5, 2024
University of Rochester illustration / Prompting and editing by Michael Osadciw using DALL-E
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
There has been a lot of debate about the benefits and potential pitfalls of generative artificial intelligence (AI) since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. A study of Reddit discourse led by Jiebo Luo, a professor of computer science and the Albert Arendt Hopeman Professor of Engineering, found that the tech community is more strongly divided in how they feel about AI than the general public.
Jiebo and his team used ChatGPT and natural language processing techniques to analyze the themes and sentiments of 33,912 comments in 388 unique subreddits in the roughly six months following the generative AI tool’s launch in November 2022. The findings appear in Telematics and Informatics.
Jiebo and his team say these discrepancies show a need for more work to demystify AI for the public and address common misconceptions and fears. They call on policymakers, developers, educators, and researchers to develop clear, accessible explanations of AI technologies and their applications.
Read more about the study at the News Center.
MELIORA WEEKEND HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED
Explore new horizons at Meliora Weekend 2024, returning Thursday, September 26 through Sunday, September 29! Made up of family weekend, alumni weekend and reunions, plus homecoming, this four-day celebration offers more than 150 events, lectures, and performances across the University community for alumni, students, families, friends, and faculty and staff. Plus, the popular Meliora Village offering local food and craft beverages, games, and fun for everyone!
Weekend headliners include multifaceted entertainer Leslie Odom, Jr., journalist and CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell, author and Hidden Brain podcast host Shankar Vedantam, and comedian Joel McHale. We will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Department of Computer Science as part of the festivities.
Registration opens Wednesday, August 7. Learn more on the Meliora Weekend website.
NIH HIGHLIGHTS ROCHESTER-LED TISSUE CHIP PROJECT
University of Rochester photography / J. Adam Fenster
The National Institutes of Health is investing heavily in organ-on-a-chip, or tissue chip, technology to develop drugs and potentially reduce the need for animals in research. They recently highlighted five new centers established with approximately $31 million over five years, one of which is led by a Hajim School researcher.
Jim McGrath, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Biomedical Engineering, is collaborating with researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Duke University to develop tissue chip tools to better understand the roles of physiological barriers in disease. Some parts of the body, such as the gut and brain, have protective barriers to keep out harmful organisms and substances. Many of these barriers play important roles in infection and cancer.
The News Center provided a detailed look at Jim’s project earlier this year and you can learn more about the other projects funded as part of this initiative on the NIH website.
STUDENTS SHINE AT SUMMER RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Lastly, I just wanted to congratulate all the students who presented such terrific work at the David T. Kearns Center’s annual Summer Research Symposium on Friday. More than 60 students presented research on Friday, including 17 University of Rochester students, several of whom were from the Hajim School. Thank you once again to all the Hajim School faculty and staff who helped make these enriching summer research experiences possible.
Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
