In the Media

Researchers at MIT have developed a bionic knee that can “integrate with a patient’s bones and nervous system, allowing users to control the prosthesis with their mind,” reports Angela Mathew for The Boston Globe. “In conventional prosthesis, there’s an energy exchange, but there’s not much of an information exchange with the brain,” explains Prof. Hugh Herr. “Because the prosthesis is so intimately connected to the skeleton, if you just tap the toe in a really modest way, the person can feel it exquisitely.”  

Prof. Giovanni Traverso speaks with WCVB about his research developing an ingestible robotic capsule capable of delivering an injection directly within the stomach. “Fifty percent of the population don’t take medication as prescribed. That’s incredible,” says Traverso. “So, if we can make a little dent, or hopefully a bigger dent, I think we can help a lot of folks out there.”  

Researchers at MIT have designed a new chip component that can “expand the reach of the Internet of Things into 5G,” reports Margo Anderson for IEEE Spectrum. “The discovery represents a broader push for 5G-based IoT tech—using the telecom standard’s low latency, energy efficiency, and capacity for massive device connectivity,” explains Anderson. “The new research also signals an important step toward applications that include smaller, low-power health monitors, smart cameras, and industrial sensors, for instance.” 

Researchers at MIT have designed an implantable device that can be used to administer a dose of glucagon to protect Type 1 diabetics from hypoglycemia, reports Amir Khollam. “The device, about the size of a quarter, sits under the skin and releases a dose of glucagon when blood sugar levels dip too low,” explains Khollam. “It can be activated manually or triggered wirelessly by a sensor.” 

Prof. Simon Johnson speaks with Planet Money host Robert Smith about the role institutions play in prosperity gaps in different countries. “I think democracy is absolutely essential for shared prosperity, because if power isn't widely shared across society, in any kind of authoritarian system, you're going to have a situation where, you might have a good ruler or a pro-growth ruler for a while,” says Johnson. “But then they're going to get cranky. They're going to die and pass it on to somebody else who's really not good for growth. So authoritarian rulers are highly unreliable in terms of sustained prosperity." 

A study by MIT researchers has found “our behavior is often more predictable than we think,” reports Diane Hamilton for Forbes. “This research focused on how people pay attention in complex situations,” explains Hamilton. “The AI model learned what people remembered and what they ignored. It identified patterns in memory and focus.” 

Prof. Danielle Li speaks with New York Times reporter Noam Scheiber about the various impacts of AI in the workplace on employees. “That state of the world is not good for experienced workers,” says Li. “You’re being paid for the rarity of your skill, and what happens is that A.I. allows the skill to live outside of people.”

Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan speaks with The Boston Globe reporter Jon Chesto about his new role as provost and his goals for the Institute. “To be in the administration, you have to understand the perspectives of the individual faculty members, the students, and the post-docs,” he said. “I want to be in the trenches, not separated from the pack.”

Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan was honored by the Indian American community in New England and the Consulate General of India in New York as he enters his new role as MIT provost, reports Abhinav Sharma for Diya TV.  “I am deeply grateful for this honor,” says Chandrakasan. “The support from this community has played an integral role in my journey. As Provost, I am committed to advancing excellence in research, innovation, and education. Together, we will shape a future defined by meaningful progress and global impact.”

Following his appointment as Institute provost, Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan has been honored at a celebratory event by the Foundation of Indian Americans of New England and the Indian Consulate of New York, reports News India. “As Provost, I am committed to advancing excellence in research, innovation, and education,” says Chandrakasan. 

Forbes reporter Eric Wood spotlights various studies by MIT researchers exploring the impact of ChatGPT use on behavior and the brain. “As stated, the impact of AI assistants is likely dependent on the users, but since AI assistants are becoming normative, it’s time for counseling centers to assess for maladaptive uses of AI, while also promoting the possible benefits,” explains Wood.

In an Opinion piece for The New York Times, columnist David Brooks highlights a recent MIT study that explores the impact of ChatGPT use on brain function by asking subjects to write essays while using large language models, traditional search engines, or only their own brains. “The subjects who relied only on their own brains showed higher connectivity across a bunch of brain regions,” explains Brooks. “Search engine users experienced less brain connectivity and A.I. users least of all.”

A new research paper by Prof. David Autor and Principal Research Scientist Neil Thompson explores the forthcoming impact of AI on jobs, reports Tim Harford for Financial Times. “[W]hile there are few certainties, Autor and Thompson’s framework does suggest a clarifying question: does AI look like it is going to do the most highly skilled part of your job or the low-skill rump that you’ve not been able to get rid of?,” writes Harford. “The answer to that question may help to predict whether your job is about to get more fun or more annoying — and whether your salary is likely to rise, or fall as your expert work is devalued like the expert work of the Luddites.” 

Researchers at MIT have “analyzed how six popular LLMs portray the state of press freedom — and, indirectly, trust in the media — in responses to user prompts,” reports Chase DiBenedetto for Mashable. “The results showed that LLMs consistently suggested that countries have less press freedom than official reports, like the non-governmental ranking like the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI), published by Reporters Without Borders,” explains DiBenedetto. 

Prof. Asu Ozdaglar, Deputy Dean of MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, speaks with Is Business Broken? podcast host Curt Nickish to explore AI’s opportunities and risks — and whether it can be regulated without stifling progress. “AI is a very promising and transformative technology,” says Ozdaglar. “But regulation should be designed very carefully so that it does not block or impede the development of the technology.” Given AI’s potential harms or misuses, she added that it's important to think about the correct regulatory framework. “For it to be successful, it should focus on where harms can come from.”