It all begins with an idea.

Great ideas, work, and stories, delivered memorably, are acts of generosity that can have immense impact on our communities, cities, and the world.

How artists can protect their work from AI

How artists can protect their work from AI

We are what we do — our identities are the sum of our knowledge, experiences and actions. In a world rapidly filled with AI generators, what does it take to protect our identity, and those of the generations to come? Heather Zheng, co-director of the SANDLAB at UChicago, presents bold ideas that empower individuals to restore control over their identity by changing how they share data online. Together with her partner, Ben Zhao, the two UChicago professors and their team have released Glaze and Nightshade, tools that disrupt generative AI from training on and mimicking artists without their consent.

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AI uses too much energy—nanotech is the solution

AI uses too much energy—nanotech is the solution

Mark Hersam is a nanotechnologist who believes that understanding materials at the shortest of length scales can provide solutions to the world’s largest problems. Using an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of neuroscience and nanoelectronics, Hersam presents a solution to the greatest societal threat posed by AI.

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The case for alien AI

The case for alien AI

James Evans asks a critical question as we ponder our AI-driven future: "What AI do we deserve?" He then takes us on a journey making the case that alien intelligence and thus alien AI that we grow and care for will be the most impactful on us as a human society. On the way, he also outlines the surprising science behind his lab's AI models and algorithms: That diversity is at the heart of the greatest scientific discoveries.

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