SHASS News

Generative artificial intelligence is transforming the ways humans write, read, speak, think, empathize, and act within and across languages and cultures. In health care, gaps in communication between patients and practitioners can worsen patient outcomes and prevent improvements in practice and care. The Language/AI Incubator, made possible through funding from the MIT Human Insight Collaborative (MITHIC), […]

The first time Steve Jobs held a public demo of the Apple Macintosh, in early 1984, scripted jokes were part of the rollout. First, Jobs pulled the machine out of a bag. Then, using speech technology from Samsung, the Macintosh made a quip about rival IBM’s mainframes: “Never trust a computer you can’t lift.” There’s […]

The MIT Music Technology Program carves out a space to explore new sounds, tunes, and experiences. From the classroom to the community, students in music tech grapple with developing both creative technology and their creative selves. In the course 21M.080 (Intro to Music Technology), it dawned on Thelonious Cooper ’25 that he had the skills […]

MIT Professor Emeritus Barry Lloyd Vercoe, a pioneering force in computer music, a founding faculty member of the MIT Media Lab, and a leader in the development of MIT’s Music and Theater Arts Section, passed away on June 15. He was 87. Vercoe’s life was a rich symphony of artistry, science, and innovation that led […]

Data and politics are becoming increasingly intertwined. Today’s political campaigns and voter mobilization efforts are now entirely data-driven. Voters, pollsters, and elected officials are relying on data to make choices that have local, regional, and national impacts. A Department of Political Science course offers students tools to help make sense of these choices and their […]