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News Archive - Jacobs School of Engineering

A New Method to Steer AI Output Uncovers Vulnerabilities and Potential Improvements

February 19, 2026

A team of researchers has found a way to steer the output of large language models by manipulating specific concepts inside these models. The new method could lead to more reliable, more efficient, and less computationally expensive training of LLMs. But it also exposes potential vulnerabilities.

Safer Railroads Through Ultrasound

February 17, 2026

Advances in ultrasound — the same imaging technology that uses sound waves to allow doctors to monitor babies in utero — are being applied by engineers at UC San Diego to make railroad track inspection more effective.

A Smarter Way for AI to Understand Text and Images

February 10, 2026

A new method trains artificial intelligence systems to more reliably solve complex problems that require interpreting both text and images. In tests, AI models trained with this method outperformed others in solving math word problems containing images such as charts and diagrams.

How Much Does Chatbot Bias Influence Users? A Lot, It Turns Out

February 9, 2026

Customers are 32% more likely to buy a product after reading a review summary generated by a chatbot than after reading the original review written by a human. That’s because large language models introduce bias, in this case a positive framing, in summaries. That, in turn, affects users’ behavior.

New Collaboration Expands Capabilities and Enhances Natural Disaster Resilience

February 4, 2026

ALERTCalifornia announced a new collaboration with Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab that will foster innovation and present novel opportunities to use ALERTCalifornia’s camera network and AI to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.

Before Crisis Strikes — Smartwatch Tracks Triggers For Opioid Misuse

January 30, 2026

Opioid overdoses continue to take a devastating toll across the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023, the nation recorded roughly 105,000 drug overdose deaths overall, with nearly 80,000 deaths involving opioids.

Hydrogen Power Gets a Spark — Thanks to SDSC’s Expanse

January 28, 2026

Solar panels and wind turbines increasingly dot the landscape, but the future of clean energy may well depend on how smoothly we burn hydrogen. Yet as anyone who’s lit a gas grill or fireplace knows, igniting a flame can be a bit tricky.

New Research Connects Heart Attacks to Brain, Nervous and Immune Systems

January 27, 2026

UC San Diego scientists have uncovered a transformative new understanding of heart attacks. The research, which connects the heart, brain and nervous and immune systems, shows that blocking key signals can lead to new treatments for heart attacks and minimize their resulting damage.

First-of-its-kind Cleanroom Turns Inventions into Devices Ready for FDA Approval

January 26, 2026

A first-of-its-kind good manufacturing practices facility located on a university campus in the United States opened this fall at the University of California San Diego. The space is dedicated to building devices that can be implanted in the human body – especially for neurological applications.

From Chatbots to Dice Rolls: Researchers Use D&D to Test AI’s Long-term Decision-making Abilities

January 20, 2026

Large Language Models, like ChatGPT, are learning to play Dungeons & Dragons. The reason? Simulating and playing the popular tabletop role-playing game provides a good testing ground for AI agents that need to function independently for long stretches of time.
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