Science (Video)

The hunting hypothesis proposes that the dietary shift to meat procurement was the catalyst favoring a suite of transformative human biological and behavioral adaptations. Evolutionary changes in the human diet are associated with the emergence of food sharing, the division of labor and pooled energy budgets. To balance this discussion, I revisit several misconceptions linked to the hunting hypothesis. Revising myths about the centrality of hunting to more closely reflect the archaeological and ethnographic records has important implications for updating the entrenched emphasis on male behaviors. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38999]

The human penchant for storytelling is universal, early-developing, and profoundly culture-shaping. Stories (folk tales, narratives and myths) influence the costs of social transactions and organize societies at every scale of human interaction. Story as a mode of communication is also unprecedented in the animal kingdom: although we are compelled to tell stories about other animals, they are not likewise compelled to tell stories about us (or anything else, for that matter). Even our ability to manage urgent human problems such as global health and climate change are affected by the stories and myths humans choose to tell. This symposium explores several stories about how the evolution of story-telling shaped, and continues to shape, the human epoch. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39005]

Some 350 to 400,000 years ago when our ancestors gained control of fire, the day was extended to provide many hours for social interaction, undisturbed by economic activities. How were those hours spent in societies that only had firelight after nightfall? In most preindustrial societies, music, dance, healing and storytelling fill the darkness. Myths and legends create common understandings on such matters as the origins of humans, social groups, rituals or features of the landscape. Hilarious trickster traditions explore the successes and failures of those who have the pluck to break with social norms. Stories about the adventures of real people add other dimensions, a topic Polly Wiessner addresses here. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38998]

Why are humans a compulsively storytelling species? Why especially do we invent stories, why do we tell one another stories that both teller and audience know to be untrue? Why do many of us come to believe some invented stories? What difference has our compulsion to tell stories made to us as individuals, societies, and a species? How do we understand stories so seemingly effortlessly? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38995]

Artificial intelligence can generate human-like responses, making it possible for malicious actors to misuse it to spread false information. The use of AI and deepfakes on social media platforms raises concerns about the potential amplification of disinformation campaigns. Efforts are underway to address this issue, including developing strategies to detect and counteract misinformation. Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute professor Stuart Geiger breaks down the consequences of AI and ChatGPT's use on social media. Series: "Data Science Channel" [Science] [Show ID: 38935]

For more than a century, folklorists have indexed a vast number of the world’s folkloric narratives according to varying structures (i.e. tale types) and to discrete elements (i.e. motifs) that commonly appear across cultures. This talk will introduce and analyze several examples of motifs indexed in folklorist Stith Thompson’s system. Ultimately, I ask whether stories about origins (human origins or otherwise) might constitute a genuine cultural universal? And if so, what might the folkloric representations of human origins say about a contemporary science of anthropogeny? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38996]

Generative AI machines can create artwork, music, and even realistic text that resembles human creations. However, these AI systems can also produce misleading or harmful content. The ethical implications involve issues like intellectual property, authenticity, and accountability. Who owns AI-generated art? How can we ensure transparency and trust in AI-generated information? Can AI infringe upon human creativity and job security? Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute professor David Danks discusses how we need to strike the right balance between technological advancement and ethical considerations. This requires careful thought, regulation, and ongoing discussions to navigate the ethical landscape of generative AI responsibly. Series: "Data Science Channel" [Science] [Show ID: 38932]

Growing up, Daniela Valdez-Jasso, Ph.D., and her family moved around a lot and her love of math was always a constant. Valdez-Jasso shares how she found her path to a career in bioengineering and how she hopes to make STEM careers inclusive for all. Series: "Education Channel" [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38361]

ChatGPT is a smart computer program that's transforming healthcare, business, research, and art. In healthcare, it helps doctors with information and supports patients. In business, it enhances customer service and automates tasks. In research, it assists scientists in finding information and making discoveries. In art, it inspires creativity and suggests new ideas. While it brings exciting possibilities, we need to consider privacy, fairness, and human involvement. It's like having a helpful friend, but we must use it responsibly and remember the unique value humans bring to these fields. Artificial intelligence is here to assist, but we must ensure ethical and thoughtful usage. Series: "Data Science Channel" [Science] [Show ID: 38933]

This series on artificial intelligence explores recent breakthroughs of AI, its broader societal implications and its future potential. In this presentation, Pamela Samuelson, professor of Law and Information at UC Berkeley, discusses whether computer-generated texts and images fall under the copyright law. She says that early on, the consensus was that AI was just a tool, like a camera, so humans could claim copyright in machine-generated outputs to which they made contributions. Now the consensus is that AI-generated texts and images are not copyrightable for the lack of a human author. The urgent questions today focus on whether ingesting in-copyright works as training data is copyright infringement and whether the outputs of AI programs are infringing derivative works of the ingested images. Four recent lawsuits, one involving GitHub’s Copilot and three involving Stable Diffusion, will address these issues.

Samuelson has been a member of the UC Berkeley School of Law faculty since 1996. She has written and spoken extensively about the challenges that new information technologies pose for traditional legal regimes, especially for intellectual property law. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), a contributing editor of Communications of the ACM, a past fellow of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a member of the American Law Institute, and an honorary professor of the University of Amsterdam.

Series: "Data Science Channel" [Science] [Business] [Show ID: 38859]