5/15/2026
5/15/2026 – Recent AI News
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Two from MIT named 2026 Knight-Hennessy Scholars
Published: Thu, 14 May 2026 16:55:00 -0400 | (Link)
The prestigious fellowship funds graduate studies at Stanford University. -
Q&A: Expanding MIT’s global reach through Universal Learning
Published: Tue, 12 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 | (Link)
Dimitris Bertsimas and Megan Mitchell discuss the motivation behind Universal Learning, and what sets the new MIT Open Learning educational initiative apart. -
Universal AI is “a pathway to AI fluency that’s accessible and approachable to anyone, anywhere”
Published: Tue, 12 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 | (Link)
New AI education program from MIT Open Learning debuts with AI-powered personalization and a free introductory course for learners everywhere. -
Study: Firms often use automation to control certain workers’ wages
Published: Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 | (Link)
MIT economists found US companies tend to target employees earning a “wage premium,” which increases inequality but not necessarily productivity. -
Games people — and machines — play: Untangling strategic reasoning to advance AI
Published: Tue, 05 May 2026 17:00:00 -0400 | (Link)
Assistant Professor Gabriele Farina mines the foundations of decision-making in complex multi-agent scenarios. -
NASA’s new AI space chip could let spacecraft think for themselves
Published: Fri, 15 May 2026 04:13:15 EDT | (Link)
NASA is testing a next-generation space computer chip that could give spacecraft the ability to operate far more independently in deep space. The radiation-hardened processor is showing performance levels hundreds of times beyond current spaceflight computers while surviving punishing tests designed to mimic the harsh conditions of space. The technology could enable AI-powered spacecraft, faster scientific discoveries, and smarter missions to the Moon and Mars. -
New quantum algorithm solves “impossible” materials problem in seconds
Published: Wed, 13 May 2026 03:33:27 EDT | (Link)
A new quantum-inspired algorithm has cracked a problem so massive that conventional supercomputers struggle to even approach it. Researchers used the method to simulate extraordinarily complex quantum materials known as quasicrystals, opening the door to powerful new quantum devices and ultra-efficient electronics. The work could help scientists design advanced topological qubits and materials for future quantum computers. -
Your “um” and pauses could reveal early dementia risk
Published: Wed, 13 May 2026 00:18:33 EDT | (Link)
The little pauses, “ums,” and moments when you struggle to find the right word may reveal far more about your brain than anyone realized. Researchers discovered that everyday speech patterns are closely tied to executive function — the mental system that powers memory, planning, focus, and flexible thinking. By using AI to analyze natural conversations, the team found they could predict cognitive performance with surprising accuracy, potentially opening the door to simple speech-based tools that could detect early signs of dementia long before traditional testing does. -
AI lets chemists design molecules by simply describing them
Published: Tue, 05 May 2026 20:20:57 EDT | (Link)
Creating complex molecules usually requires years of experience and countless decisions, but a new AI system is changing that. Synthegy lets chemists guide synthesis and reaction planning using simple language, while powerful algorithms generate and evaluate possible solutions. The AI doesn’t just compute—it reasons, scoring pathways and explaining which ones make the most sense.