Wikipedia from the World: Grounded Articles from Any Source

Alexander Martin, JHU

UMBC CBEE professor Tyler Josephson was selected as a 2025 Pivot Fellow by the Simons Foundation.  At UMBC, Prof. Josephson leads the AI & Theory-Oriented Molecular Science Lab (ATOMS), which develops computational methods for molecular simulation and automated discovery of scientific theories. 

Techniques used in the ATOMS Lab include quantum chemistry, Monte Carlo, symbolic regression, and formal theorem proving using Lean. His research is currently supported by the NSF and the DoD, including an NSF CAREER Award for "Automated Reasoning to Advance Chemical Theory" and an Army HBCU/MSI Early Career Award for "Simulation methods for reactive adsorption of emerging water pollutants."

The Simons Foundation Pivot Fellowship is open to faculty in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, data science, and computer science at academic institutions or equivalent positions elsewhere. Fellows receive salary support, as well as funding for research, travel, and professional development. At the end of their fellowship year, they are invited to apply for a research award of up to $1.5 million over three years. Read more about the 2025 Pivot Fellows.

Register here to participate in person or get the online link

UMBC's Institute of Politics released the third and final part of their recent poll of 810 Maryland adults with the results of a set of questions on "Attitudes toward artificial intelligence". 

Maryland Matters has a good overview of the results, which it summarized as "Nearly all Marylanders responding to a new poll said they are aware of artificial intelligence — and they have concerns." As an example, the piece notes that "81% are concerned about the spread of misinformation and political propaganda because of AI."

You can read the details of who was surveyed, the AI questions, and a breakdown of the answers here.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, workflows, and the skills that matter most. But the future belongs not to machines, but to humans who adapt alongside them.

Rex Jarrett, Director of UMBC's Office of Professional programs, hosts this forward looking session on how to thrive in an era of intelligent work. Learn what skills can't be automated, how to future proof your career through continuous learning, and how to use AI as a partner rather than a threat. Whether you're navigating a career transition or reimagining your professional path, this session will help you chart a confident, informed course toward your next opportunity.

The session will take place online at 12-12:30pm EST on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Get more information and join the event here. 

See a recording here

The Privacy Paradox of GenAI: What It Knows, Why It Matters, and How We Fight Back

Roberto Yus, 12-1pm Wed. Nov 5, 2025, online

Generative AI (GenAI) systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are transforming how we work, communicate, and create, but they also pose serious privacy concerns. These systems often absorb sensitive inputs, operate atop opaque training data, and may retain more than users realize. The real paradox is this: while GenAI can compromise our privacy, it can also be harnessed to help protect it.

This talk explores both sides of that paradox. We begin by examining what these systems "know", from how everyday prompts may reveal personal or proprietary information to how models process, store, or share data. We then discuss why these risks matter, both for individuals and institutions navigating a rapidly shifting AI landscape. But this is not just a critique, it's a call to action. We'll share practical recommendations for using GenAI tools more safely and privately. Then, we'll turn to new research from the DAMS Lab that flips the script: using GenAI to interpret and explain complex corporate privacy policies, empowering users to make informed, privacy-conscious decisions. This talk is for anyone who wants to benefit from GenAI without surrendering control over their data, and who sees privacy not as a casualty of AI progress, but as a challenge AI itself can help us solve.

Roberto Yus is an Assistant Professor in UMBC's CSEE Department, where he leads the DAMS (DAta Management & Semantics) research group. His research interests concern Data Management, Knowledge Representation, the Internet of Things, and Privacy. Specifically semantic and privacy preserving data management in IoT environments.

Online

Generative AI in Teaching I: Literacy and Foundations

7-8pm EST Mon, Nov. 3, 2025, online

This session introduces the basics of generative AI and its implications for teaching and learning. It focuses on AI literacy by examining what these tools are, what they can and cannot do, basic prompting, ethical & responsible use, and how they may impact classroom practice. Participants will see short demos of ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and have time for Q&A. This is a reprise of the workshop held by Dr. John Schumacher, in October.

Get more information and register here.