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Envisioning a future in which AI can decode whale song
An imaginative essay about a fictional breakthrough human-to-animal translation software wins this year’s Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize competition.
Christopher Maynard (center) SM'24, a recent graduate of the Technology and Policy Program in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, celebrates winning this year's Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize competition with his friends. Photo: Gretchen Ertl
Can artificial intelligence enable humans to communicate with whales?
Much has been written lately about attempts by scientists who are harnessing the power of AI to enable humans to talk to other species one day. While some progress has been made in this field of study, the idea is still a far-fetched reality — except for in the imagined future of Christopher Maynard SM ’24.
A recent graduate of the Technology and Policy Program in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Maynard dreamed up a work of speculative fiction about a breakthrough human-to animal translation technology, named Bioglossia, for the Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize, an essay contest that challenges MIT students to articulate their musings for what a future driven by advances in computing holds, for better or worse.
For the second year in a row, the competition asked students to describe in no more than 3,000 words, a particular computing-related technology that could, on balance, improve people’s lives and the ways it could do so, as well as the pitfalls and dangers associated with it. All entries were eligible to win a number of cash prizes.
In his paper, Maynard begins his tale by taking readers to a fictional press conference where researchers from Cornell University, in collaboration with the AI startup Metazoagloat, reveal a groundbreaking achievement: they have decoded two humpback whale dialects using a large language model trained on an extensive database of marine audio recordings. This remarkable discovery enables the translation of some humpback whale songs into English with a confidence level of 96 percent using the team’s innovative AI interpreter.
“With powerful AI tools, such as those that could allow people to control or negotiate with wildlife, I fear that self-serving individuals could inflict significant and irreparable harm to the natural environment." - Christopher Maynard SM '24, Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize winner
Crowned the $10,000 grand prize winner, Maynard won for his original narrative that covered key developments of and reactions to Bioglossia as a phenomenon and a product told in three parts from a broad spectrum of perspectives, including experts and laypeople, optimists and pessimists, and those in between.
Maynard says he came up with the concept for Bioglossia when listening to the soundtrack for the BBC series Blue Planet II while on a walk. “It got me thinking a lot about whales, particularly about their cognitive complexity and notions of culture and inner lives,” he says. “I wondered if cetaceans had a literary heritage, spiritual beliefs, or if they ever considered the inner lives of humans. And eventually, I found myself speculating on the prospect of proving that these animals actually use language and if we could ever hope to interpret their vocalizations.”
After being encouraged to submit an entry for the prize competition, Maynard says he knew that he wanted to contemplate these ideas further. “Naturally, the bridge between these thoughts and computing was some kind of artificial intelligence or large language model for facilitating translation.”
When asked if his viewpoint of AI may have changed during the course of writing his story, Maynard says that while he was initially optimistic and excited by the possibility of communication between humans and animals, he became convinced by some of his own characters’ worries about the dangers involved with the technology.
“With powerful AI tools, such as those that could allow people to control or negotiate with wildlife, I fear that self-serving individuals could inflict significant and irreparable harm to the natural environment. Despite my continued optimism for AI in general, I do now worry that it will be exceedingly difficult to halt the proliferation of its more nefarious applications.”
Inspiring creative thinking
Co-sponsored by the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC), a cross-cutting initiative of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS), with support from MAC3 Philanthropies, the contest this year attracted 67 submissions from undergraduate and graduate students across various majors, including nuclear science and engineering, media arts and sciences, electrical engineering and computer science, mathematics, chemical engineering, and others.
“The essays were absolutely awesome,” says Caspar Hare, associate dean of SERC for the Schwarzman College of Computing and professor of philosophy.
Hare, who conceived the idea for the competition which launched last year, says that “the aim of the Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize is to inspire students to unleash their creative potential.” He adds that because many MIT students are, or will be, developing computing-related technologies, “we want to encourage them to consider the societal and ethical implications of their work as a forethought, not an afterthought. The competition offers a fun way for them to embrace such thinking.”
Faculty and students from all corners of MIT, as well as family and friends of the finalists, attended the live awards ceremony held on April 23 in the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing building. Photo: Gretchen Ertl
As evidenced by their highly imaginative essays, MIT students rose to the call of the challenge. One paper explored current and future advancements of open-source wearable artificial intelligence and the possibility that one day, human bodies and brains could be implanted with AI-enhanced neural interface devices. Another took readers to the year 2034 and introduced a new technology suite designed to serve as the primary platform for electoral processes and the expansion of democratization. It portrayed four scenarios that examined the possible effects of the new technology on individuals in the U.S. and India, the two largest democracies in the world.
Ahead of the submission deadline, students had the opportunity to test their ideas at workshops led by SERC postdocs who offered their help and advice on how to write a technology impact paper.
Determining the winner
As part of a two-stage evaluation process, all of the essays were first reviewed anonymously by a committee of faculty members from the college and SHASS. Three finalists were selected to move forward based on the papers the judges deemed to be the most articulated, thorough, grounded, imaginative, and inspiring.
In late April, a live awards ceremony was held where the finalists were invited to give 20-minute presentations on their entries for the second round. The event brought together about 100 faculty and students from all corners of MIT, as well as family and friends who came to show their support. The contenders also answered questions from the judging panel and audience members, sparking thoughtful and inspiring conversations throughout the evening on the societal impact of the fictional computing technologies presented.
The winner was ultimately determined by their final tally, which comprised 75 percent of their essay score and 25 percent of their presentation score.
Christopher Maynard with runners ups, Sadie Zacharek (far left), a PhD candidate in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and Siddhu Pachipala (far right), an undergraduate majoring in economics and political science. Photo: Gretchen Ertl
“I was thrilled to participate in judging this year’s Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize competition and to witness the imagination of MIT students in action. It’s important to push students to think now about where computing technologies are going tomorrow — and to evaluate the risks and rewards they promise. The awards ceremony was a delightful experience, with charismatic presentations and challenging questions from the audience. I hope the prize will build from strength to strength,” says Kieran Setiya, a professor and philosophy section head in MIT’s Department of Linguistics and Philosophy.
In addition to Setiya, others on the judging panel included:
- Dan Huttenlocher, dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing;
- David Kaiser, professor of the history of science and professor of physics;
- Yoon Kim, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science;
- Asu Ozdaglar, deputy dean for the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS);
- Georgia Perakis, interim dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management;
- Manish Raghavan, assistant professor of information technology at MIT Sloan and EECS
- Julie Shah, head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics;
- Brad Skow, professor of philosophy; and
- Nikos Trichakis, interim associate dean of SERC and associate professor of operations management.
"The awards ceremony was a delightful experience, with charismatic presentations and challenging questions from the audience." - Kieran Setiya, Professor, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy
The judges also awarded $5,000 to the two runners up: Siddu Pachipala, an undergraduate majoring in economics and political science, for his essay [link to paper] on generative AI in politics, and Sadie Zacharek, a PhD candidate in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, for her conception [link to paper] of a predictive model for mental health precision medicine. Additionally, the judges recognized 12 honorable mentions, each receiving a cash prize of $1,000.
Terri Park | MIT Schwarzman College of Computing
MIT chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society inducts 92 graduating seniors
MIT chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society inducts 92 graduating seniors
Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, honors the nation’s most outstanding undergraduate students for excellence in the liberal arts, especially in the humanities, arts, natural and social sciences.
MIT chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society inducts 92 graduating seniors
MIT chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society inducts 92 graduating seniors
Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, honors the nation’s most outstanding undergraduate students for excellence in the liberal arts, especially in the humanities, arts, natural and social sciences.
Shining a spotlight on local science journalism
The Knight Science Journalism program’s Victor K. McElheny Award honors outstanding local and regional journalists’ reporting on science, public health, tech, and the environment.
MIT SHASS' Top 10 Articles of 2023
MIT SHASS' Top 10 Articles of 2023
What captured readers' attention in 2023?
Celebrating diversity and cultural connections
At "Heritage Meets Heritage" event, MIT students enjoy conversations, trivia, and delicacies from around the world
MIT SHASS Spring Ahead with SHASS
MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Spring Ahead with SHASS 2023
Photos from the event held November 29, 2023
Hearing Amazônia—MIT musicians in Manaus, Brazil
Music’s storytelling power illuminates cultural and environmental sustainability in Brazil
GALLERY | NEWLY TENURED FACULTY 2023
Meet the 2023 tenured professors in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Eleven faculty members granted tenure in economics; history; literature; music; philosophy; political science; and science, technology, and society.
Burchard Scholars gather to network, connect, and learn
The Burchard Scholars dinner series helps create conversations between academic disciplines.
A civil discourse on climate change
The forum is the first in a series planned at MIT this year, part of an initiative meant to encourage the open exchange of ideas.
MIT SHASS undergraduates study race, place, and modernity in Brazil
MIT undergraduates visit São Paulo for the Independent Activities Period (IAP) subject “Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas.
Centering feminism: Investigating marginalized women and potential empowerment
Lerna Ekmekcioglu, MIT’s McMillan-Stewart Associate Professor of History and the director of MIT’s Women’s and Gender Studies program, researches a more inclusive feminism.
Designing a revolution
MIT professor, students collaborate with Chilean partners for historic exhibition marking 50 years since Allende's presidency
The MIT Community shared an evening of laughs with comedian Michelle Wolf
Comedian Michelle Wolf brought her laugh-out-loud comedy to the MIT community at Kresge Auditorium
MIT SHASS Fall Family Fair 2023
MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Fall Family Fair 2023
Photos from the event held October 17, 2023
MIT SHASS welcomes ten new faculty
New professors bring diverse backgrounds and vast knowledge in their areas of research
Diversity Predoctoral Fellowship Program welcomes 2023-24 class
Fellowships support graduate scholars for a nine-month appointment at MIT.
Meet the SHASS 2023-24 MLK Visiting Scholars
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visiting Professors and Scholars enhance their scholarship through intellectual interactions with MIT peers and enrich the intellectual life of the Institute with their participation in MIT research and academic programs.
Empowering the next generation of philosophers through diversity and inclusion
Held annually at MIT, PIKSI-Boston brings together students from groups underrepresented in the field of philosophy
Q&A: Steven Gonzalez on Indigenous futurist science fiction
The HASTS PhD candidate describes his new book, “Sordidez,” a science fiction novella on rebuilding, healing, and indigeneity following civil war and climate disaster.
IN THE CLASSROOM
The philosophical side of cinema
MIT students examine movies, art, and ethics from both the producer and audience perspectives
AWARDS AND HONORS
Undark series "Long Division" wins first place at NABJ awards
Reporting project examined the fraught legacy of race science
2022 Levitan Prize Funds Studies on Early Language Acquisition
MIT researchers exploring children's acquisition of 'dummy words'
MIT economist Stephen Morris elected to the British Academy
Morris is among the class of 86 Fellows elected this year
IN THE CLASSROOM
Through documentary filmmaking, science writing graduate students build storytelling skills
In GPSW course, students produce short-form documentaries exploring topics in science
3 Questions: Justin Reich on the state of teacher speech in America
A new podcast series from MIT's Teaching Systems Lab explores the laws and cultural divisions presenting new challenges for educators
MIT and Czech Teams develop Novel Digital History Project supported by MISTI Czech Seed Fund
The project and the web application will be presented to the academic public in early October 2023
Keeril Makan named Associate Dean of the MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Makan will lead special projects, while continuing to serve as section head of Music and Theater Arts
IN THE CLASSROOM
The Social Lives of Medical Objects
An anthropology course explores the unexpected social questions behind everyday medical devices
HONORS AND AWARDS
101 MIT Class of 2023 students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society
A remarkable cohort of graduating seniors in the MIT Class of 2023 were honored for excellence in the liberal arts.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Literature section establishes DEI advisory board
Board members aim to provide resources to Literature faculty, staff, and students
STUDENT PROFILE
On a mission to uplift others and save Marma
For Linguistics graduate student Rani Ukhengching Marma from Bangladesh, protecting the indigenous language also means preserving her culture, traditional knowledge, and generational wisdom
FELLOWSHIPS
Next steps for the 2022-23 SHASS Diversity Predoctoral Fellows
The MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) Diversity Predoctoral Fellows are concluding their time in the program. Learn more about this year's fellows and their plans for the future.
2023 ADVANCED DEGREE CEREMONY
MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences 2023 Advanced Degree Ceremony
Photos and video from the ceremony, held Thursday, June 1, 2023
HONORS AND AWARDS
2023 Infinite Mile Awards
Five SHASS staff members recognized for their contributions to the MIT community
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT, CLASS OF 2023
Profiles | Senior Spotlight
Meet 44 of the many graduating seniors who focused deeply on both the Liberal Arts and STEM fields at MIT. In their own words, these students reflect on the value of their multi-dimensional, dual-competence MIT education — and their plans for the future!
AWARDS AND HONORS
Timothy Loh, doctoral student in HASTS, awarded dissertation fellowship from the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation
Loh's project explores the relationship between assistive technologies, disability, and education
IN THE CLASSROOM
Reading Poety: Social Poetics
This new Literature course was designed with an emphasis on Black U.S. poets, part of a group historically barred from literacy and many forms of ownership and belonging
MIT in 3:00 video competition
Audrey Chen's video "Welcome to Arcturus" won the Audience Award, and Daisy Ziyan Zhang's "Her Days and Nights" won the Jury Award.
RESEARCH
How young children communicate could reveal fundamental truths about the nature of conversation
MIT experts in early language development corroborate a long-debated theory about presupposed content in sentences
3 Questions: Global Languages at MIT
Global Languages faculty director Per Urlaub on the growing popularity of language programs at MIT
HONORS AND AWARDS
Benjamin Mangrum receives the 2023 Levitan Prize
Assistant professor of literature's research focuses on the cultural and intellectual history of environmental rights
HONORS AND AWARDS
Announcing the 2022 Levitan Teaching Award Winners
Five extraordinary MIT SHASS educators were honored with the 2022 Levitan Teaching Awards. Presented each year, the award distinguishes these instructors as some of the finest at the Institute.
Former Gov. Tom Wolf PhD '81 receives the 2023 Robert A. Muh Alumni Award
He will deliver his award lecture "Collective Action: The Essence of Politics" at a public event on March 21, 2023
RESEARCH
SHASS stories on MIT News
The MIT News stories about SHASS research, awards, and creative works are primarily written by Peter Dizikes, Institute Writer for MIT News. The collected publications on this webpage also include some selected stories, which appear on MIT News, written by the SHASS academic units and by the SHASS Communications group in the Office of the Dean.
COMMENCEMENT 2023
MIT SHASS Advanced Degree Ceremony
Graduates of all master’s and doctoral programs through the MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (MIT SHASS) will be recognized during an in-person, school-specific ceremony taking place on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Guests—up to 4 per graduate—will be welcomed at these celebrations and hoods will be presented to doctoral candidates.
SOLVING CLIMATE
Given what we know, how do we live now?
MIT's Council for the Uncertain Human Future
The Council for the Uncertain Human Future convenes small circle groups to reckon with the climate crisis in solidarity. Sponsored jointly by MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, the Dean's Office of MIT SHASS, and the Council leadership, the ongoing program is part of Fast Forward: MIT's Climate Action Plan for the Decade.
Honoring SHASS faculty service on Institute committees
Each year, many members of the MIT SHASS faculty give generously of their time to serve on Institute-level committees that play key roles in guiding MIT as a whole. Please join us in celebrating their remarkable dedication.
CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 5-7
Community is invited to the "Bearing Witness/Seeking Justice Conference: Videography in the Hands of the People"
“We’re encouraging people in the Greater Boston area to attend, including young people, concerned citizens, community-based organizations — everyone who cares about democracy, media, justice, and truth-telling."
HONORS AND AWARDS
82 MIT Class of 2022 students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society
A remarkable cohort of graduating seniors in the MIT Class of 2022 were honored for excellence in the liberal arts. Professor of History Elizabeth Wood gives the PBK address, titled: "Love of wisdom is the helmsman of life.”
COMMENCEMENT 2022
MIT SHASS Advanced Degree Ceremony
Thursday, May 26, 1pm. Join us via Livestream to celebrate the 2022 MIT SHASS Masters and Doctoral graduates!
SALUTE TO SENIORS, CLASS OF 2022
Profiles | Meet the MIT Bilinguals
Meet 38 of the many graduating seniors who focused deeply on both the Liberal Arts and STEM fields at MIT. In their own words, these "bilingual" students reflect on the value of their multi-dimensional, dual-competence MIT education — and their visions for the future!
AWARDS
Amy Moran-Thomas receives the Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award
Anthropologist recognized for interdisciplinary work on health, climate, and equity
NEW RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
New Shapiro Graduate Fellowship supports research on the History of the African-American Experience of Technology
HASTS PhD student Kelcey Gibbons is the inaugural recipient.
TRIBUTES + THE FUTURE
Linguistics luminaries Chomsky and Halle honored
A Stata Center wing celebrates their achievements— and the next generation of linguistics research at MIT.
IN MEMORIAM
Influential scholar Leo Marx dies, at 102
Internationally respected and beloved, Leo Marx created a new lens for American history studies — and was a leader in bringing the humanities into a central academic role at MIT.
SOLVING CLIMATE
Expanding imagination for a livable future
A conversation with MIT anthropologist Bettina Stoetzer about shaping a livable future, her new book, and her MIT class on "Gender, Race, and Environmental Justice."