CSAIL
Advancing Artificial Intelligence Research
The broad applicability of artificial intelligence in today’s society necessitates the need to develop and deploy technologies that can build trust in emerging areas, counter asymmetric threats, and adapt to the ever-changing needs of complex environments. As part of a new collaboration to advance and support AI research, the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of …
Study: Computing Is Made In America (But Not Just By Americans)
It’s no secret that algorithms run the world, powering everything from Google’s search results to Uber’s car-pool capabilities. But farther under the hood are a more fundamental set of algorithms that underpin computing: if Google PageRank is the engine, these algorithms are the parts it’s built from. To date, there haven’t been any long-term studies …
MIT Experts: No, Don’t Use Blockchain To Vote
In the middle of a pandemic, it’s not surprising that there have been increasing calls to explore the possibility of conducting elections online. A growing number of tech start-ups have even advocated for using blockchain technology, which they say would boost voter turn-out and improve public trust. But in a new paper looking at a range of examples, …
System Brings Deep Learning To “Internet Of Things” Devices
Deep learning is everywhere. This branch of artificial intelligence curates your social media and serves your Google search results. Soon, deep learning could also check your vitals or set your thermostat. MIT researchers have developed a system that could bring deep learning neural networks to new — and much smaller — places, like the tiny …
Algorithm Reduces Unnecessary Use Of Antibiotics For UTIs
One paradox about antibiotics is that, broadly speaking, the more we use them, the less they continue to work. The Darwinian process of bacteria growing resistant to antibiotics means that, when the drugs don’t work, we can no longer treat infections, leading to groups like the World Health Organization warning about our ability to control major public …
Autonomous Boats Could Be Your Next Ride
The feverish race to produce the shiniest, safest, speediest self-driving car has spilled over into our wheelchairs, scooters, and even golf carts. Recently, there’s been movement from land to sea, as marine autonomy stands to change the canals of our cities, with the potential to deliver goods and services and collect waste across our waterways. …
What To Expect When You’re Expecting Robots
As Covid-19 has made it necessary for people to keep their distance from each other, robots are stepping in to fill essential roles, such as sanitizing warehouses and hospitals, ferrying test samples to laboratories, and serving as telemedicine avatars. There are signs that people may be increasingly receptive to robotic help, preferring, at least …
Robot Stably Swings Objects Into Specific Poses
In a topsy-turvy world, we humans often take for granted our ability to pick up and handle objects of different weights and sizes. We’ve probably all had the experience of picking up a suitcase that we assume is quite heavy and realizing that it’s completely empty. A key reason we can pick up and manipulate …
Translating Lost Languages Using Machine Learning
Recent research suggests that most languages that have ever existed are no longer spoken. Dozens of these dead languages are also considered to be lost, or “undeciphered” — that is, we don’t know enough about their grammar, vocabulary, or syntax to be able to actually understand their texts. Lost languages are more than a mere academic curiosity; without …
Electronic Design Tool Morphs Interactive Objects
We’ve come a long way since the first 3-D printed item came to us by way of an eye wash cup, to now being able to rapidly fabricate things like car parts, musical instruments, and even tissues and organoids. While much of these objects can be freely designed and quickly made, the addition of electronics to embed things …