2024

January 2, 2024

Digital twin technology helps scientists simulate problems, provide solutions to help growers

Dana Choi and Charlie Li from UF/IFAS are utilizing digital twin technology to revolutionize agricultural practices, with Choi focusing on robotic and sensor simulations for agricultural automation and Li on training machine-learning models for crop phenotyping. This technology, leveraging advances in AI and computing, allows for precise virtual modeling to optimize real-world agricultural applications and decision-making.

January 2, 2024

Study: Frequent Consumption of AI-Related News Can Lead to Increased AI Literacy and Support of AI Policies and Regulation

A study reveals that frequent engagement with AI-related news fosters political discussions on AI, enhancing AI literacy and support for AI policies and regulations, influenced by the level of AI efficacy among individuals. This moderated relationship underscores the importance of AI news in shaping public opinion and policy endorsement, highlighting the need for informed and active citizen engagement in AI governance.

January 10, 2024

Year in Review: Artificial Intelligence and Nephrology

Azra Bihorac and Benjamin Shickel's review in Nature Reviews Nephrology showcases the transformative impact of AI in nephrology, particularly through the use of large language models and diverse patient data sources. They predict that AI's continued evolution will significantly advance nephrology by integrating personalized patient data and natural language processing to enhance medical understanding and practice.

January 18, 2024

How scientists are using UF's supercomputer

The University of Florida's HiPerGator supercomputer is catalyzing breakthroughs in over 800 research projects across various disciplines, supported by a $50 million investment from an alumnus and NVIDIA. This powerful AI tool is not only advancing scientific research but also playing a key role in educating the next generation in AI applications.

January 23, 2024

AI-powered app can detect poison ivy

University of Florida scientists, led by Nathan Boyd, developed an AI-powered app designed to identify poison ivy in real-time, even without internet connectivity, aiming to reduce the annual incidence of up to 50 million people worldwide suffering from rashes caused by the plant. The app, which is yet to be commercially released, demonstrated its effectiveness through a study that involved training a computer to recognize poison ivy from thousands of images collected from various locations, thereby potentially minimizing health concerns related to contact with the plant.

January 29, 2024

How Instagram Algorithms Can Impact Influencer Following and Endorsement Effectiveness

Instagram's algorithms play a pivotal role in forming user habits around following influencers, significantly impacting the effectiveness of influencer marketing, as explored in a study by Yang Feng and Quan Xie.

January 31, 2024

At UF, human connections power artificial intelligence

Through the integration of AI, researchers at the University of Florida are exploring new frontiers in psychology, political science, and beyond, leveraging AI's capabilities to tackle complex challenges and foster interdisciplinary collaborations, ultimately aiming to advance research and education in diverse fields.

February 5, 2024

Can we create the molecules of life?

Utilizing the HiPerGator supercomputer, researchers at the University of Florida have shown that amino acids and DNA bases, key components of life, can form in the right conditions, marking a significant step towards explaining how life might have originated.

February 8, 2024

University of Florida to strengthen its sports program through AI-Powered Athletics

The University of Florida launches a groundbreaking AI-Powered Athletics project within the UF & Sport Collaborative, supported by a $2.5 million investment from UF President Ben Sasse, aiming to enhance sports performance and healthcare through wearable sensor data and health analytics. This initiative, a collaboration between the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the University Athletic Association, seeks to leverage AI for student-athlete performance and health, contributing to UF's global leadership in sports science and education.

February 12, 2024

How UF is combatting AI misinformation in elections

As the 2024 election approaches, the challenge of navigating disinformation is heightened by advanced AI tools capable of creating highly convincing deepfakes, according to Janet Coats of the University of Florida's Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology. UF combats this threat by developing AI detection tools and educating on media literacy, aiming to empower both journalists and the public in distinguishing real news from misinformation.

February 22, 2024

Colleges are using AI to prepare hospitality workers of the future

Rachel J.C. Fu's new book emphasizes the growing importance of AI in the hospitality industry, predicting a shift towards technology-driven jobs and enhancing guest experiences through AI applications, from operational tasks to personalized learning and customer service in education and industry practices.

February 24, 2024

AI technology: A promising aid in nursing education and beyond

Dr. Lisiane Pruinelli at the University of Florida College of Nursing explores the promising role of AI in reducing nurse burnout and enhancing patient care, highlighting both the potential and the current limitations of technologies like ChatGPT in nursing education. She advocates for the ethical integration of AI to streamline administrative tasks and improve direct patient interactions, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation to ensure these technologies truly benefit patient outcomes.

February 28, 2024

UF Health project seeks to help mothers in need

The University of Florida Health's new project aims to reduce pregnancy health risks by using a patient dashboard to identify and address social determinants like housing, food insecurity, and stress early, connecting mothers with needed resources to improve outcomes.

March 12, 2024

UF researchers evaluate academic performance of chatbots

A study by University of Florida researchers found that OpenAI's GPT-4 outperformed the student average on most graduate-level biomedical exams but struggled with certain complex questions, indicating a need for careful evaluation of its accuracy and trustworthiness in academic and healthcare contexts.

March 22, 2024

Nancy Ruzycki's summer science camps continue to empower young scientists

Nancy Ruzycki's Goldberg Gator Engineering Explorers Summer Program, initiated in 2022 with support from a significant donation and a State grant, has successfully empowered young scientists and teachers through hands-on AI and engineering education. The program has expanded its reach and curriculum, offering summer camps, teacher training, and an after-school virtual program to foster computational thinking and problem-solving skills among students

March 22, 2024

Dalir’s CHIP Lab Integrates ML with Optical Networks

Dr. Hamed Dalir's CHIP Lab at the University of Florida published research on a novel hybrid optical-electronic convolutional neural network (CNN) system that incorporates machine learning to enhance the demultiplexing of orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams. This advancement in optical computing and communication technologies could significantly reduce system latency and energy consumption, opening new avenues for high-speed and efficient data transmission.

March 27, 2024

Musical Marvel: Hollywood has taken notice of this engineer-turned-composer’s AI-infused art

Tina Tallon, a composer and AI and the Arts professor at the University of Florida, harnessed spectral data from stars using a computer model she developed, converting it into sound for a Marvel movie score, showcasing a creative blend of science and art to make astronomy data accessible and to foster collaboration between disciplines.

April 2, 2024

White House officials tour UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center; admire AI initiatives, tout importance of cybersecurity

White House officials, including Jake Braun, toured the University of Florida's Gulf Coast Research and Education Center to discuss the importance of cybersecurity in agricultural AI technologies, aiming to safeguard food supply chains.

April 8, 2024

CJC Alumnus Uses AI to Make Jobs Easier for Hearst Journalists

UFCJC alumnus Ryan Serpico has created the AI tool Producer-P, significantly streamlining workflow in Hearst Newspaper newsrooms by automating routine journalistic tasks. This innovation allows journalists to focus more on core reporting and less on time-consuming processes.

April 9, 2024

Empowering Citizens in the Age of AI: The Importance of Efficacy and Literacy

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed the O-S-R-O-R model to explore how AI efficacy and literacy influence public support for AI policies, revealing that greater confidence in using AI boosts engagement and policy support

April 10, 2024

Researchers create a new AI pipeline for identifying molecular interactions

Assistant Professor Alberto Perez and his team have created a groundbreaking AI-driven algorithm, the AF-CBA Pipeline, to efficiently identify molecular interactions between proteins and peptides with high accuracy and speed. This tool, which leverages advances in computational technology and AI, particularly building on Google Deepmind's AlphaFold, aims to facilitate the development of targeted therapies for diseases by predicting the structure of peptide binders to problematic proteins, with initial focus on combating viruses like murine leukemia virus and Kaposi’s sarcoma virus.

May 6, 2024

AI, lasers used to evaluate forest damage helps with rapid response after hurricanes

University of Florida researchers are employing AI and lidar technologies to create detailed 3D maps that assess forest damage following hurricanes. This innovative approach enables faster, more efficient environmental management and response efforts after such natural disasters.

May 6, 2024

Advancing Food Safety Monitoring Using an AI-based Sensor

Emma Holliday, a food science master's degree student at the University of Florida, is working on an innovative project to create an AI-based pathogen sensor aimed at quickly detecting Salmonella in food products. This sensor uses non-toxic dyes and machine learning to analyze gases emitted by bacteria, offering a promising solution to enhance food safety and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.

May 13, 2024

Dynamic Doppelganger: Developing Florida’s Digital Twin

The University of Florida is leading the development of Florida’s Digital Twin, a project that uses artificial intelligence and digital twin technology to create virtual models of cities like Jacksonville to improve urban planning and infrastructure decision-making. This initiative also extends to healthcare, where digital twin technology is being applied to simulate medical environments to improve patient care and training, demonstrating the broad potential of these technologies to transform various sectors.

May 15, 2024

Fins Enters Into an Education Partnership Agreement with NSA

The University of Florida (UF) has formed an Education Partnership Agreement with the National Security Agency (NSA) to enhance STEM and AI education, with initiatives led by the Florida Institute for National Security (FINS) under Dr. Damon Woodard. This partnership will grant UF students and faculty access to extensive NSA resources and expertise, specifically supporting AI-focused workforce development initiatives like the Clearable Talent Pipeline.

May 19, 2024

UF Study Uses Machine Learning To Predict Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Interruptions

Researchers at the University of Florida have created an AI-powered tool to identify patients at high risk of discontinuing their buprenorphine treatment, which is critical for managing opioid use disorder. The system, which analyzes several factors like early treatment adherence and demographic data, helps clinicians intervene more effectively to improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of overdose and death.

June 2, 2024

AI Communication and Technology You, We and I, Robot: How Social Cognitive Theory Explains How Humans Learn from Machines

Kun Xu, assistant professor in emerging media at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, conducts groundbreaking research on how robots can teach and influence human behavior. His study offers new insights into human-robot interaction and the evolving role of AI in education.

June 5, 2024

How AI can improve health care

Members of the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions discussed AI's potential to enhance healthcare delivery, highlighting advancements like personalized medicine and improved patient outcomes, during a seminar led by Aprinda Indahlastari, Jim Hoover, and Noah Hammarlund.

June 5, 2024

To hire the right job candidate, humans and machines should clear up this simple miscommunication

Nearly every Fortune 500 company uses AI for hiring, but these tools may be selecting worse candidates than expected due to a miscommunication in their design. Researchers at the University of Florida found that AI algorithms, when not properly informed about the human-led second stage of hiring, may choose safer but less promising candidates, and they developed an improved algorithm that better aligns with real-world hiring processes, reducing costs and improving candidate quality.

June 7, 2024

UF Researcher developing trustworthy AI to model human behavior in natural disasters

UF researcher Xilei Zhao, Ph.D., is pioneering advanced AI models to predict human behavior during natural disasters, significantly enhancing emergency response strategies. Her work aims to ensure social equity by accurately modeling diverse populations and improving community resilience.

June 20, 2024

Study: Facial Recognition Technology in Human-Robot Interaction Enhances Users’ Robot Acceptance

A new study suggests that increasing the transparency of facial recognition technology in human-robot interaction enhances users’ social presence, reduces privacy concerns, and boosts acceptance of robots. The research, conducted by Kun Xu and colleagues from the University of Florida and Missouri Western State University, was published in New Media & Society.

June 25, 2024

UF smart sensor sends smartphone alert if mending patient is too daring on their feet

UF Health's Dr. R. James Toussaint and UF engineering professor Swarup Bhunia have developed an innovative wearable Bluetooth device to improve patient safety in orthopaedics. This device, using AI analytics to provide real-time alerts to patients and doctors, aims to prevent non-compliance with movement restrictions and could be applied to various medical and sports performance scenarios.

June 26, 2024

Students hone their dental AI skills while helping their patients

University of Florida dental students improved their cavity detection skills by over 40% after just one hour of training with Overjet’s dental AI technology, which has been integrated into the UF curriculum to prepare students for AI-driven advancements in their field. This collaboration between UF and Overjet is part of a broader initiative to enhance AI education and patient care within the College of Dentistry.

June 27, 2024

Tambellini Group awards University of Florida grand prize for inaugural Future Campus Award

The University of Florida received the grand prize in the Tambellini Group’s inaugural Future Campus Award for its innovative integration of AI across its curriculum, recognized at the Future Campus Summit in New York City. This award highlights UF's AI Across the Curriculum program and its partnership with NVIDIA, positioning UF as a national model in AI education and workforce preparation.

July 16, 2024

AI certificate gives UF graduates a competitive edge in the workforce

Employers seek AI expertise, and the University of Florida's AI Across the Curriculum initiative, established in 2020, equips students with valuable AI skills through comprehensive programs and certifications. Graduates like Zoe Barinaga and Angel Hernandez have seen significant career benefits and enhanced employability as a result of this training.

July 16, 2024

UF AI Innovations we Appreciate