Can AI Replace Human Research Participants? These Scientists See Risks
Several recent proposals for using AI to generate research data could save time and effort but at a cost
Technology
We Need a Public Service Internet to Free Us from Big Tech’s Grasp
The profit-led business models of big tech are harming democracy. We should look to the tradition of public media to help us find alternatives
How Artificial Intelligence Helped Write This Award-Winning Song
Machine-learning algorithms allow composers to create all-new instruments.
Collaborating in Person May Spark More Innovative Research
Bringing people together virtually doesn’t seem to boost disruptive research
New Insights from AI, Strange Metals and Parents of LGBTQ Kids
AI has deciphered ancient texts, learned new math and provided new ideas about human consciousness
When Real Life Is Hostile, LGBTQ+ Gamers Find Friendship Online
Many LGBTQ+ video gamers use gaming to build community, especially in jurisdictions that are considering anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
God Chatbots Offer Spiritual Insights on Demand. What Could Go Wrong?
Large language models trained on religious texts claim to offer spiritual insights on demand. What could go wrong?
Inside the AI Competition That Decoded an Ancient Herculaneum Scroll
The Herculaneum scrolls, charred and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, were unreadable—until now
Building Intelligent Machines Helps Us Learn How Our Brain Works
Designing machines to think like humans provides insight into intelligence itself
Your Next Flight's Fuel Could Be Made By Microbes
The aviation industry is getting ready to embrace fuel produced by fermentation
Too Much Trust in AI Poses Unexpected Threats to the Scientific Process
It’s vital to “keep humans in the loop” to avoid humanizing machine-learning models in research
How Blatantly False Headlines Can Distort What We Believe In
New research highlights the necessity of stopping huge falsehoods during the presidential election cycle