Information Changes Everything

Learn more about the stories you heard today:Media Forensics Hub launches updated “Spot the Troll” quizSlop added to Cambridge Dictionary, as AI redefines languageWindowSwapRadio GardenJudge rules Google can keep Chrome, but must share some search engine data with rivalsJapanese Cities Use Social Media to Teach Tourists MannersKnow Before You Go – Visit KanazawaReplikaI went on a date with my AI dream guy. Then I cried over shrimpDating an AI: How Much Is It Really Happening?Multi-language audio – YouTube BlogThese weather apps actually care about your privacyAI Darwin AwardsTired of cookie consent pop-ups? You soon may see less of themUMSI convenes scholars and industry leaders to shape human-centered AILearn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest. 

Learn more about the stories you heard today:World’s first robot Olympics held in China (Quartz)AOL to discontinue dial-up internet service (CNN)Versailles statues can now talk to visitors with AI (New York Times)Instagram’s new map feature raises privacy concerns (CBS News)Boston Public Library digitizes archives with OpenAI (NPR)‘Tradwife,’ ‘delulu,’ and ‘skibidi’ among new Cambridge Dictionary words (Sky News)10 surprising things your smartphone camera can do (MakeUseOf)Texas A&M researchers map U.S. power outage hot spots (Texas A&M)Interactive power outage map (Netlify app)Focus Friend app overtakes ChatGPT on App Store (Lifehacker)Pomodoro Technique (Wikipedia)How to minimize distractions in Chrome (HowToGeek)School of Information launches two new AI courses open to all U-M undergraduatesLearn more about UMSI’s fully online master’s degree in applied data science: umsi.info/mads Learn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest. 

Learn more about the stories you heard today:“Click to Cancel” rule to make canceling subscriptions easier blocked by courtNoom wants to be 'the Duolingo of health'Robo-Bunnies Are the Newest Weapon in the Fight Against Invasive Burmese Pythons in FloridaThe 7 Best Puzzle Games You Can Play in Your Browser‘The postcard craze’ of historic Michigan: More than 60K postcards digitized at U-M Clements LibrarySay hello to the new emoji coming in Unicode 17.0New emojis are coming to iOS 26 soonThis ancient Hungarian abbey is fighting an infestation of book-eating beetlesHugging Face introduces open-source desktop robot for $299Imginn Lets You Browse Instagram Pages Without an AccountImginnWe Made This Film With AI. It's Wild and Slightly TerrifyingAI thinks like us? UMSI researchers unveil new model to predict human behaviorLearn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest. 

Learn more about the stories you heard today:Ars Technica: Microsoft extends free Windows 10 security updatesMicrosoft PC Health Check appQZ: Every iPhone model timelineThe Verge: WhatsApp ads rolloutEngadget: US House bans WhatsAppYouTube: Neccolo video on Grow a GardenNYT: Grow a Garden recordNiemanLab: Social media overtakes TVBBC paywall announcementVatican News: Pope Leo on AIMashable: Labubu crazeNorwegian SciTech News: Predicting tech adoptionLiveScience: Weird technologies that never took offUMSI: New minor in human-centered AISubscribe to the UMSI Research RoundupLearn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInLearn more about the Master of Applied Data Science online programThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest. 

Learn more about the stories you heard today:Paul Tudor Jones: AI poses an imminent threat to humanity in our lifetime (YouTube)Using AI to Write Fake Summer Reading Lists (NPR)How to Save Your Smartphone’s Battery Life (Pocket)Pocket’s Read-It-Later App Will Shut Down in July (Android Central)Remove These Preinstalled iPhone Apps (Lifehacker)How to Turn Your Old iPhone Into an Alarm Clock (Engadget)Yuka (Official Site)The Food-Scanning App Yuka Is Worrying Big Brands (WSJ)Agatha Christie’s Classic BBC Mysteries Get an AI Update (NYT)Agatha Christie Teaches Writing (BBC Maestro)YouTube’s Pause Ads Are Causing Ad Fatigue (Marketing-Interactive)YouTube TV Ad Spend Surges While Mobile Growth Slows (Tubefilter)Duolingo Deletes TikTok After AI Backlash, Returns With Strange Message (Fast Company)Merriam-Webster Hops on the Wordle Train With New Daily Puzzle Game (Digital Trends)Revealed (Britannica Games)Most of Us Will Leave Behind a Large Digital Legacy When We Die – Here’s How to Plan What Happens to It (The Conversation)Internet Archive (Main Site)An Inside Look at How the Internet Archive Saves the Web (BBC Reel)UMSI Student Hamza Naveed Among 50 Selected Nationwide for Google Summit (UMSI)Subscribe to the UMSI Research RoundupLearn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInLearn more about the Master of Applied Data Science online programThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest.

Learn more about the stories you heard today:Service update: Original & large size download limitations on free accountsMeta Tries to Revive Friendships With a Facebook RevampBringing the Magic of Friends Back to FacebookThe machines are rising—but developers still hold the keysThe Most Common Names in Every CountryGoogle’s AI Overviews may be hurting click-through ratesYou’ve Read Misinformation About the Switch 2 — Here Are the FactsYour TikTok personality data could help scienceUMich study shows how generative AI could use personality to combat vaccine mythsNile Berry on Penn StationMoynihan Train HallSee how a Michigan town moved 9,100 books—one by oneUMSI team’s XR classroom tool takes top prize in campus-wide James A. Kelly Learning Lever competitionLearn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInLearn more about the Master of Applied Data Science online programThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest. 

Learn more about the stories you heard today:AI Beats Humans at Meme Humor, but the Best Joke Is Still Human MadeBlack History Month: Red Hat Partners, Griot Grits Preserve Family Histories with AIThese Scientists Are Building a Cat Database to Understand Why They Act Like ThatDrugstores, Pixel-Sensitive Data & Social Media CompaniesSesame Voice Assistant, AI Glasses & Oculus Insights from Brendan IribeMike McCue and the Surf Browser on the Decentralized InternetA Vital Link to Local NewsFires, Wars and Bureaucracy: The Tumultuous Journey to Establish the U.S. National ArchivesEverything You Need to Know About Robotaxi Driverless VehiclesVideo Game Music at the London Soundtrack FestivalYouTube Video: “I’m Not a Robot” (2025 Academy Award Winner) | The New Yorker Screening RoomEverything You Need to Know About “Maybe Happy Ending” on BroadwayArchiving Nation's Wild Heart: UMSI Students Expand Access to Yellowstone's HistoryLearn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest. 

Learn more about the stories you heard today:Harvey Weinstein thanked more than GodHow many episodes should you watch?John Oliver’s content moderation episode isn’t just funny, it’s absolutely accurateTurn old phones into remote controls for streamingAI opens endless doors in fashionHow wearables for wildlife are unlocking the secret knowledge of animalsGoogle’s Career Dreamer uses AI to help you explore job possibilitiesGenerate maps of Europe showing translations of English wordsVoice of America Centre changed to Voice of Mexico Center on GoogleMapQuest enters its villain arc, hands you the keys to geographyMicrosoft to retire Skype on May 5Best video call apps to replace SkypeGlobal leaders in tech and AI join UMSI Advisory BoardLearn more about the University of Michigan School of InformationLearn more about the Master of Applied Data Science online programHave feedback or ideas? Drop us a note at umsipodcast@umich.eduFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInThis podcast has a companion newsletter, and you can get the monthly email version for free! Subscribe at umsi.info/digest.

In this episode of "Information Changes Everything", we highlight three lightning talks from UMSI's 2024 Alumni Homecoming Celebration. The talks examine cutting-edge research in the information science field. Rebecca Frank discusses the role of citizen-based nuclear disarmament verification through satellite imagery, emphasizing trust in data. Jiayu Zhou presents his work on using AI and machine learning for Alzheimer's detection and disease progression modeling. Finally, Yan Chen explores how social media promotion can improve job outcomes for underrepresented groups in STEM.Speakers: Rebecca Frank | umsi, Yan Chen | umsi, Jiayu Zhou | umsiHeadlines: UMSI Alumni Homecoming Celebration, UMSI welcomes new 2024-25 faculty, 2024 UMSI employment reports show versatility of information science degree

In this episode of "Information Changes Everything", University of Michigan professors Barbara McQuade, Ariel Hasell, and Ceren Budak join moderator Christian Sandvig to discuss the challenges of disinformation and misinformation in the digital age. They explore the role of social media platforms, the impact of technology on elections, and potential regulations to address these issues. The conversation also touches on how institutions, platforms, and individuals can work to mitigate the spread of false information and promote a healthier information environment. You can watch the full panel here.To learn more about voting or registering to vote visit vote.gov.

In this episode of "Information Changes Everything", we hear from Jon Allan, Senior Academic and Research Program Officer at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Allan challenges the perception of water as an infinite resource, explaining that while the total amount of water remains constant, its usability varies based on its state and location. He discusses the complexities of water management, including decentralized decision-making and the importance of evidence-based policies. Allan also highlights technological opportunities like data analysis and innovation to address water issues and emphasizes the role of storytelling and social cohesion in promoting effective conservation efforts. For the full talk click hereHeadlines:Study: Can mobile apps influence healthy behaviors among people with hypertension? | umsiTeenage dream: MSI student uncovers adolescence in the archives | umsiWorking from home, kids version

In this episode of Information Changes Everything, we explore why online communities on platforms like Reddit and Facebook often thrive together rather than compete. NathanTeBlunthuis, a computational social scientist, shares his research using concepts from organizational ecology to reveal that overlapping communities frequently support each other instead of clashing. He also shares the implications of these findings for understanding digital media and designing better online spaces. To watch the full video of this 2023 talk click here.Headlines: Peterson-Salahuddin: Can Kamala Harris turn memes into votes? It depends, UMSI assistant professor Robin Brewer earns Henry Russel award, Check out the American Archive

In this episode of Information Changes Everything, we focus on the power of citizen science, as we hear from UMSI assistant professor Andrea Thomer. Thomer shares her unique journey from a fossil excavator to a data curation expert, highlighting the critical role of data curation in preserving scientific data. She discusses a current project where volunteers contribute to transcribing historical fish population data using the Zooniverse platform. The talk emphasizes the importance of combining technology with the invaluable contributions of citizen scientists. For the full video of this talk click here.Headlines: Meet UMSI alumna and “Jeopardy!” super-champion Adriana Harmeyer, Batool: Deepfake sexual content disproportionately harms women, A Helpful Song That Makes It Easier to Memorize 200 Digits of Pi

In this episode of "Information Changes Everything", we explore the topic of water conservation and access, aligning with the University of Michigan School of Information's 2024 Theme Year. Drew Gronewold, an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Environment and Sustainability, brings his expertise, highlighting key water conservation challenges and the obstacles in addressing them. He also examines the potential of information and technological advancements to create solutions. For the full video of this talk click here.Headlines: UMSI announces 2024 DEI Awards recipients, UMSI students advance wildlife research with motion-sensor camera data, Team Pursues Virtual, Physical Historic Preservation of Disappearing Black Schools.

Ever dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur? In this episode of "Information Changes Everything", Jason Blessing, CEO of Plex Systems and current UMSI advisory board member, offers invaluable insights and practical tips for aspiring entrepreneurs. In his 2015 talk at the University of Michigan School of Information, titled "Eight Lessons from the Trenches," Blessing shares his experiences and lessons learned. For the full video of this talk, click here.Headlines: New social media tool measures hateful, offensive and toxic speech on social platforms, First Paper Friday: David Gamba, The Pudding: "this is a teenager".

In this episode of Information Changes Everything, Dora Demszky, an assistant professor at Stanford University, discusses the unprecedented potential of large language models (LLMs) in scaling various aspects of education. Demszky synthesizes findings from three papers that evaluate the ability of LLMs to provide feedback to educators on their discourse. For the full video of this talk click here.Headlines: Robert: The rewards and risks of using AI-powered technologies on our pets, UMSI students give RoosRoast new website designs that fit the vibe, The End of an Era: Women Who Code Closing

In this episode of "Information Changes Everything,", we put the spotlight on Jeff Furman, chair of the board of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Join us as Jeff takes us back to the early days of Ben & Jerry's in the 1980s, sharing how the company’s humble beginnings evolved into a powerful social mission. This mission has propelled Ben & Jerry's to the forefront of socially responsible business practices. Celebrating Ben & Jerry’s 35th anniversary, Jeff provides insights into the company’s journey and its ongoing commitment to making a positive impact. For the full video of this talk visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HApxrdrqVA Headlines: UMSI community mourns the passing of distinguished alumna Nancy Gwinn, Faces of UMSI: Rachael Zuppke, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/02/01/ais-energy-appetite-meeting-the-demand-for-innovation/?sh=48aa396b46d1

In this episode of "Information Changes Everything,", we hear from economist and professor Lise Vesterlund, who examines why women in the workforce are disproportionately asked to perform “non-promotable work.” This work, often essential yet undervalued, leaves women overcommitted and underutilized in their careers. Lise Vesterlund is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Economics at the University of Pittsburgh, director of the Pittsburgh Experimental Economics Laboratory, and co-author of "The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work," a Financial Times top business book. For the full video of this talk visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tvpavrr2AE&ab_channel=SchoolofInformation Headlines: Faculty Research Highlight: Sile O’Modhrain | umsi, A year of water: Snapshots from UMSI’s first theme year | umsi, https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-launches-how-search-works-series-to-demystify-seo/508425/

Anticipating AI failures in healthcare with Dr. Karandeep Singh | In this episode of "Information Changes Everything," Dr. Karandeep Singh, a leader in machine learning within health systems, discusses the common challenges and failures in AI model implementation in healthcare. Using real-world examples, Dr. Singh addresses issues such as reproducibility, transportability, and intervention efficacy. He offers insights on anticipating these challenges, estimating their impact, and designing better interventions to improve patient care. Tune in to learn practical strategies for overcoming AI implementation roadblocks in healthcare. For the full video of this talk visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X19dfN5ZM6c&ab_channel=SchoolofInformation Headlines: Jurgens: U-M is taking the lead on creating AI tools for faculty, students | umsi | Where do Nextdoor communities exist—and what do they talk about? | umsi, https://news.ncsu.edu/2024/04/nc-state-researchers-use-machine-learning-to-create-a-fabric-based-touch-sensor/