A simple physics-inspired model sheds light on how AI learns

Artificial intelligence systems based on neural networks—such as ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek or Gemini—are extraordinarily powerful, yet their internal workings remain largely a “black box.” To better understand how these systems produce their responses, a group of physicists at Harvard University has developed a simplified mathematical model of learning in neural networks that can be analyzed …

A new type of optical chip cuts static power while enabling electrical reprogramming

As technology advances, and the demand for faster, higher-bandwidth, and more energy-efficient data processing continues to grow, scientists and engineers search for ways to improve electronic systems. One avenue they have been exploring is optoelectronics—the study and application of electronic devices that interface with light by detecting, emitting, or converting it into electrical signals.

This AI knew the answers but didn’t understand the questions

For decades, psychologists have debated whether the human mind can be explained by one unified theory or must be broken into separate parts like memory and attention. A recent AI model called Centaur seemed to offer a breakthrough, claiming it could mimic human thinking across 160 different cognitive tasks. But new research is challenging that …

Why pedestrian deaths keep rising: AI spots rare crash patterns where targeted fixes could save lives

On average, car crashes cause more than 40,000 deaths per year in the United States. Technologies like seat belts, advanced airbags, and automated braking systems have improved car driver and passenger safety, but pedestrian deaths due to crashes have actually increased by 48% over the last decade, reaching about 7,500 fatalities in 2022. Transportation researchers …