Technology

Communications professor Benjamin Mako Hill studies why successful peer-produced websites (like Wikipedia) eventually struggle to maintain their openness to new contributors.

Researchers in natural language processing tried to tame human language. Then came the transformer. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.

Chatbots learned from human writing. Now its their turn to influence us. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.

The large language models that power today's chatbots have become so astoundingly capable that AI researchers are hard pressed to assess those capabilities. Do these models genuinely understand our world? Or are they merely a triumph of data and calculations that simulate true understanding? Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.

Roughly 20 states now have laws permitting families to place cameras in the rooms of loved ones. Facility operators are often opposed. Clara Berridge, associate professor of social work at the UW, is quoted.

Rare survey of AI experts exposes deep divide with public opinion. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.

Chemistry professor Alshakim Nelson and his research team use 3D-printing technology to develop new materials with potential real-world applications in medicine, engineering, and sustainability.

The circumstances need to be right, but modeling suggests finding biosignatures in the atmospheres of planets orbiting nearby stars will be well within the Extremely Large Telescope's capacity. The UW's Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy, and Miles Currie, a doctoral student of astronomy, are mentioned.

The circumstances need to be right, but modeling suggests finding biosignatures in the atmospheres of planets orbiting nearby stars will be well within the Extremely Large Telescopes capacity. The UW's Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy, and Miles Currie, a doctoral student of astronomy, are mentioned.

Hearing aid technology is improving all the time with the help of AI, thanks to researchers like Yi Shen, professor of speech & hearing sciences. 

As books evolve with new technologies, Geoffrey Turnovsky, professor of French, explores the history of texts — and the reading experience. 

The historic parallels that help explain Elon Musks rampage on the federal government. Erin McElroy, assistant professor of geography at the UW, is quoted.

Travelers frequently bemoan the ultra-budget airlines tiny seats, frequent delays, baggage fees, and lack of complementary snack and drinks. People love meme-ing the carrier, at the bare-minimum treatment on Spirits distinctive yellow planes. Jonathan Bricker, affiliate professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

People are increasingly falling for their favorite chatbots, spending hours each day building relationships with their artificial lovers. Chatbot site Janitor AI told Semafor that users have started 2.1 million conversations with its Valentines Day bots since they went live on Tuesday, representing about a quarter of all interactions on the site and breaking the companys all-time daily user record. Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology at the UW, is quoted.

Massachusetts attorney general is championing a bill this legislative session that would ban students from using their cellphones and other personal electronic devices during the school day. Luca Magis-Weinberg, assistant professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.