Algorithms and AI for a better world
Assistant Professor Manish Raghavan wants computational techniques to help solve societal problems.
Study reveals AI chatbots can detect race, but racial bias reduces response empathy
Researchers at MIT, NYU, and UCLA develop an approach to help evaluate whether large language models like GPT-4 are equitable enough to be clinically viable for mental health support.
Hank Green to deliver MIT’s 2025 Commencement address
The science communicator, video producer, and entrepreneur has built online communities of people who love diving into complex issues.
Study: Browsing negative content online makes mental health struggles worse
Researchers have developed a web plug-in to help those looking to protect their mental health make more informed decisions.
Misinformation is all around. How can we combat it?
In a lecture at MIT, Professor Adam Berinsky surveyed one of the thorniest ongoing problems in modern politics.
3 Questions: How to prove humanity online
AI agents could soon become indistinguishable from humans online. Could “personhood credentials” protect people against digital imposters?
“They can see themselves shaping the world they live in”
Developed by MIT RAISE, the Day of AI curriculum empowers K-12 students to collaborate on local and global challenges using AI.
In international relations, it’s the message, not the medium
Research surveys show warnings issued by world leaders are taken equally seriously whether issued on social media or through formal statements.
New tool empowers users to fight online misinformation
The Trustnet browser extension lets individuals assess the accuracy of any content on any website.
For more open and equitable public discussions on social media, try “meronymity”
A communication system whose users reveal only a few verified aspects of their identity can empower less confident participants to speak up, researchers report.
How free online courses from MIT can “transform the future of the world”
MIT OpenCourseWare’s YouTube channel inspires millions of learners across the globe to expand their knowledge and develop new skills for free.
Study measures the psychological toll of wildfires
Research in Southeast Asia quantifies how much wildfire smoke hurts peoples’ moods; finds the effect is greater when fires originate in other countries.
In online news, do mouse clicks speak louder than words?
Partisan media might deepen political polarization, but we should measure people’s media habits more carefully before drawing conclusions, researchers say.
Analyzing pathways to persuasion
When it comes to shaping political beliefs, MIT postdoc Chloe Wittenberg PhD ’23 finds video captivates, but might not beat text.
Have you heard about the “whom of which” trend?
An MIT student and linguistics professor spot an emerging English phrase and examine what it tells us about syntax — but questions remain.