Generation AI

In 2022, Cruise decided to test its fleet of self-driving cars in several cities across the U.S., including Austin. The cars caused traffic backups, car accidents and even injury. It’s clear we have a long way to go with autonomous vehicles. So how do we enter a future where driverless cars are an inevitability? In this episode, hear why experts are hopeful for the future and some good news about the way the technology is enhancing the lives of farmers and ranchers.   

Most people know that they’re being watched in some capacity, from targeted Instagram ads to traffic cameras. Researchers are working to find ways to use AI-based surveillance technologies ethically to advance public good, like monitoring low water crossings or auto-pedestrian accidents to decrease deaths and injuries. But these tools don’t come without concerns. For example, some surveillance technologies are trained on biased data sets and inaccurately identify people of color. In this episode, host Rylie Lillibridge talks to researchers and experts on how these tools can be used for good – and what dangers still exist.  

Welding can be a dangerous job. Heavy equipment, sparking electrical arcs and high temperatures can create a risky situation, especially for inexperienced welders. Tools integrated with artificial intelligence technologies are lowering the risks and increasing accessibility in welding and other trade professions. They’re also helping students learn skills faster and work more efficiently. In this episode, hear from professionals in the field, the researchers who seek to support them and an educator exploring how these tools could enhance training.

The systems our cities rely on – transportation, emergency response, and more – are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make operations run more smoothly. Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, so the way officials use AI technology can vastly improve the lives of its citizens. In this episode, hear how researchers are creating digital twins of cities to smooth out transportation issues and modeling fire patterns to keep citizens safe.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the latest buzzed-about technology in the field of artificial intelligence. The chatbot has both created new opportunities and caused concerns in creative fields, academia and beyond. And machine-generated writing is showing up everywhere. But how do these large language models work, and what are they allowed – and not allowed – to say? In this episode, host Rylie Lillibridge walks through language models and datasets, and even tries to jailbreak the technology.   

To say tensions were high during the past few American elections would be an understatement, and the development of machine-generated content is not making things any easier in 2024. As artificial intelligence evolves, mis- and disinformation continues to run rampant and become more realistic. And experts are concerned about the impact AI-generated content could have on our election processes. In this timely first episode of Generation AI, host Rylie Lillibridge shares a successful example of how AI helped curb election disinformation in the Philippines and gathers tips on how to identify AI-generated mis- and disinformation online.

As artificial intelligence continues to develop, it's not enough to focus on whether AI can or cannot carry out a task — we need to focus on whether the technology should carry out the task at all.  At the University of Texas at Austin, researchers across a variety of disciplines are doing just that. From Good Systems — Ethical AI at UT Austin and The Drag Audio Production House, "Generation AI" explores how AI is transforming the way we live, work, teach, learn and connect with each other.