professors

Computer science professor and author Cal Newport argues it is time to formally investigate the leading AI labs, in an essay gaining wide attention. He contends the companies racing to build advanced artificial intelligence operate with little outside scrutiny, and that independent investigation into their practices and claims is overdue as the technology's influence grows.

AMD is reported to be acquiring World Labs, the spatial intelligence AI startup founded by Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li, in a deal valued at $8.2 billion. The reported acquisition would mark one of the largest AI company purchases to date and deepen AMD's push into artificial intelligence beyond chips. Details on timing and terms have not yet been confirmed by either company.

Chipmaker AMD has agreed to acquire World Labs, the AI startup founded by Stanford professor and AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, in a deal valued at $8.2 billion. The acquisition, reported by Bloomberg and the Japan Times, is a major move by AMD to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence as competition with Nvidia and other chip and AI companies intensifies.

Chipmaker AMD has agreed to acquire the AI start-up founded by Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li in a deal worth about $8 billion, according to the Financial Times. The move signals AMD's push to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence against rivals like Nvidia, and the news is drawing attention across tech and business circles.

AMD has agreed to acquire World Labs, the spatial-intelligence AI startup founded by Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li, in a deal reported at $8.2 billion. The move would put one of the most prominent figures in AI research behind AMD's technology stack as the company pushes to challenge Nvidia in artificial intelligence computing.

Professors say the race among parents to give their children an edge in school and life has intensified to a degree they have not seen before. The observation points to rising pressure around admissions, enrichment activities and achievement, with academics warning that intense competition may take a toll on both children and families.

Eyal Weizman, professor of spatial and visual cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London, and founder of the research agency Forensic Architecture, is taking part in a discussion about his book "Ungrounding: The Architecture of Genocide". The conversation covers his investigations into destruction in Gaza and the built environment's role in the Israel-Palestine conflict, drawing attention amid ongoing fighting.

A professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville has published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal arguing that artificial intelligence could push higher education back toward Socratic methods. The argument holds that as AI takes over tasks like information delivery and grading, universities may return to dialogue-based teaching focused on questioning and critical thinking. The piece is drawing attention in debates over how AI will reshape classrooms and the purpose of a degree.

A Northeastern University professor is calling for generic, one-size-fits-all AI models to become obsolete, arguing instead for specialized systems tailored to specific domains or tasks. The argument, featured by Northeastern Global News, touches on a live debate among AI researchers over whether broad general-purpose models can keep improving or whether domain-specific approaches will prove more reliable and efficient.

A Jewish professor has filed a formal complaint against Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, accusing the Catholic institution of antisemitism. The complaint, reported by The Jerusalem Post, alleges discriminatory treatment, though details of the specific accusations have not been widely released. The case adds to a growing list of legal and regulatory complaints over antisemitism at American universities.

German security expert Carlo Masala features in a new ARD programme previewing 'Russia's Shadow Army in Europe', examining Moscow's alleged covert operations and influence activities across the continent. The security scholar, a professor at the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich, is a frequent commentator on Russian threats, and the broadcast is drawing attention in Germany amid ongoing debate over hybrid warfare and European security.

NPR has published the story of a professor who was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent cutting-edge treatment, reportedly involving mRNA-based approaches and questions of affordability. The piece follows his shift from expert observer to patient navigating new therapies. It is drawing attention as a personal account of where lung cancer treatment stands and who can access it.

Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow is sharing a talk by Professor John Corbett on Edwin Morgan's Scots translation of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, drawn from its 2021 Schools Conference. The item is being circulated around International Translation Day, drawing attention to Morgan's drama translations and their place in Scottish literature.

Anthropology professor Biao Xiang has become an unexpected favourite among young people in China, who praise him for articulating the anxiety and pressures they face over work, education and an uncertain future. BBC coverage highlights how his commentary resonates with a generation feeling squeezed by intense competition, with many fans saying he understands their struggles better than most public figures.

M. V. Ramana, a professor at the University of British Columbia, said nuclear power is not the solution to climate change as renewable power sources become cheaper and more advanced. He argued that larger nuclear plants make little economic sense compared with rapidly advancing renewables, a view circulating in energy-focused discussions.

Alain Bauer, the French criminologist and professor, is being searched and discussed in France. The available context links to a manifesto titled 'Une enfance empêchée' (A prevented childhood) published via Carenews, but it is not confirmed what role Bauer plays in it or why his name is circulating. No further details about his involvement or statements are available at this time.

Faculty at Yale University differ over whether and how students should be allowed to use artificial intelligence in their coursework, the Yale Daily News reports. Some professors are embracing AI tools as teaching aids, while others are restricting or banning them, reflecting a broader debate in higher education about academic integrity and learning outcomes.

A new Netflix film tracing Ted Kaczynski's origins, known as the Unabomber, is drawing attention to its cast and who plays the key figures in the story of the former mathematics professor who carried out a nationwide mail-bombing campaign. Viewers are searching for details on the actors taking on the roles in the film.

The TV movie 'Doppia colpa' is broadcast this evening on Rai 2, drawing attention for its plot in which a mystery upends the life of a professor. Italian viewers are discussing the thriller ahead of and during its airing, with coverage highlighting the suspenseful storyline that will be shown on the public broadcaster's second channel tonight.

Edmund Halley House in Oxford, UK is being highlighted as a historic site tied to the astronomer's life. Edmond Halley was appointed Savilian Professor of Geometry in January 1703/4 and is believed to have moved into the house two months later as a sub-tenant under a lease John Wallis had held from New College. An observatory was built there in 1705.

The government of Pernambuco, Brazil, has carried out appointments of a penal police officer and a professor following judicial decisions, according to reports circulating locally. The appointments are linked to PMPE, the Pernambuco Military Police, and have drawn attention because they were made through court orders rather than the usual competitive process. Commenters are debating the implications of judicially mandated nominations for public service hiring.

A film about Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, is drawing attention to his time at Harvard, where as a teenager he took part in a psychological study led by professor Henry A. Murray. Coverage examines what happened to Murray afterwards and the ethics of the experiment, which involved prolonged stress sessions, and how it may have shaped Kaczynski's later life.

A lawsuit claims Adam Kalkstein, a professor at the US Military Academy at West Point, was fired after objecting to directives barring faculty from teaching that humans contribute to climate change. According to the complaint, he pushed back against department officials imposing these limits on climate instruction. The case raises questions about academic freedom and political interference in teaching at the prestigious military academy, and is likely to draw attention as climate-related controversies spread through US institutions.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered military academies, including West Point and the Naval Academy, to stop hiring civilians as tenured professors. The directive reshapes how faculty are staffed at service academies and has drawn criticism from academics who warn it could politicize education and narrow the range of expertise available to future officers.