Spring 2018

In the past few years, home assistants powered by artificial intelligence have become commonplace. Several companies have been testing and refining automated vehicles and AI is rapidly making inroads into other areas, such as language translation and facial recognition. In short, the technology is becoming ubiquitous. In this issue, we look at the promise of AI – and the implications of its widespread use.

Featured Posts

A surgeon's hand reaching for a scalpel, being offered by a robotic hand

AI and the MD

Doctors will soon use artificial intelligence to help diagnose and treat patients, opening up new possibilities for better health Read More

Illustration of a singer that looks like a robot

Alexa, Compose Me a Song

So far, machines are not very good at creating original art, such as pop tunes and short stories. Could it be they’re missing something uniquely human? Read More

Illustration of a spaceship-like vehicle towing a gigantic pill while navigating around red blood cells inside a blood vessel.

Tiny Robots, and the Future of Drug Delivery

Microscopic machines may soon swim through our bodies, delivering cancer drugs to tumours and assisting with difficult surgeries Read More

Close up photo of PhD graduates in convocation robes seated during convocation.

What You Can Do with an Advanced Degree

Many recent PhD grads are professors, but a growing number, especially in the sciences, have landed jobs in the private sector Read More

In This Issue

Gimmy Chu, a University of Toronto graduate, co-founded the green technology company Nanoleaf. They developed the Nanoleaf LED light bulb, the world's most energy-efficient bulb.

Strength in Numbers

Our first-ever Alumni Impact Survey reveals that U of T alumni are making massive social, cultural and economic contributions around the world Read More

Illustration of intersecting yellow lines, as well as red lines in the shape of a stethoscope.

Six Questions We Need to Ask about Using Artificial Intelligence in Health Care

A U of T research team is examining ethical issues raised by the new technology Read More

A Robot That Cheers Up Kids

Meet MEDi the robot, who sings, dances and helps young cancer patients feel less afraid Read More

Photo of a welcome mat surrounded by concentric circles of sealed cardboard shipping boxes.

Artificial Intelligence Is Here. Is It Time to Rethink Your Business Strategy?

To answer this question, consider this thought experiment Read More

Illustration of two spherical spacecrafts in orbit, each attached to a gigantic disc-like solar sail.

A New Generation of Spacecraft, Powered by Light

Solar sails could propel ships to other planets – and even stars – with much less fuel Read More

Scientists Can’t Read Your Mind. But They’re Working on It

Prof. Tom Chau’s lab can already tell what word you’re thinking of, or if you’re singing a song to yourself Read More

Illustration of seats in a movie theatre with the screen showing the

Surfing the Net Is Old School. Soon, We May Inhabit It

A computer science alum has created a technology that turns the web into a virtual world Read More

Illustration of an armed soldier upfront and helicopters, smoke and running soldiers in the background.

Suppressing Our Most Fearful Memories

Research on mice reveals that specific memories can be weakened. Could this one day help treat the effects of trauma in humans? Read More

With Damaged Organs, a Chance for “Regrowth”

Prof. Michael Sefton imagines being able to treat diabetes with a single injection Read More

Illustration of a pair of shoes casting the shadow of a person.

A Way to Make Things Disappear

Prof. George Eleftheriades is developing a radar-evading technology that he thinks could be used one day to make anything invisible Read More

Photo of an art installation of a sleeping bag inside a log on the left and a man lying with eyes closed on the right.

Night Owls Unite

An all-night event at Hart House celebrated sleep – and the lack of it Read More

Off Script

Ayisha Lineo Gariba doesn’t play by the rules – while making films or while running her business Read More

Close up photo of Mitchel Ferraro in the ready position at the start of a race.

The (Virtual) Shape of Water

Varsity Blues swimmers competed against a team in Britain – but neither left their own country Read More

Illustration of a newspaper, plate of breakfast and coffee on the left (35% yes) and a cellphone showing a picture of a plate of breakfast and coffee on the right (65% no).

Have You Ever Done a Digital Detox?

Many students say no, but add that coursework doesn’t allow them to Read More

Alessandra and Paul Dalla Lana standing beside a tree with Alessandra's arms clasped around Paul's shoulder

Twice the Impact

Paul and Alessandra Dalla Lana give U of T a second $20 million for public health and health-care systems Read More

Attracting Top International Grad Students to U of T

Edwin Leong establishes a $55,000 graduate scholarship to be awarded annually to two international students Read More

Editor Extraordinaire

Francess Halpenny helped turn U of T into an academic publishing powerhouse Read More

Photo of a plastic-gloved hand picking up the fourth of six prescription medicine containers in a row.

Many Medicines Are Considered Essential. Not All Are Effective

A U of T doctor is leading efforts to review the medical evidence for more than 2,200 commonly prescribed drugs Read More

Illustration of a magnifying glass magnifying a mosquito, with mosquitoes on the left of the glass transforming into airplanes on the right.

Predicting Where Infectious Diseases Will Strike Next

Climate change adds a new wrinkle in the quest to get out in front of epidemics Read More

Illustration of a chart with a line graph in the shape of a smiling face and arms, and with a heart in the upper left corner.

Dark Data

The usefulness of “steps per day” and other information our devices help us track Read More

Photo of Spartan Bioscience's DNA-testing device.

Could This Palm-Sized Cube Replace an Entire Lab?

Spartan Bioscience, founded by three alumni, aims to make DNA testing more accessible Read More

Photo of a pair of hands operating a video game controller.

Ready Student One

English class gets an update with a new kind of “text” Read More

Photo of four cards, the top three facing up showing the Jack, Queen and King of hearts with definitions for

All In on Gutenberg

Students in Prof. Paolo Granata’s book and media studies class learn print culture terms while playing poker Read More

Greener Pastures

Can a simple high-tech tool for farmers boost crop yields in developing countries? Read More

The Wife’s Tale

In her new book, Aida Edemariam shares stories of her grandmother, who survived violence at home – and civil war Read More

Tackling Football’s Ratings

Maryann Turcke is finding new ways to attract viewers to the NFL Read More

A Professional “Safe Space” in the #MeToo Era

U of T alumni created #GoSponsorHer to advance women’s careers Read More

Hope Floats

U of T alumna Kerri Sakamoto’s new novel explores racism, architecture – and how to “dream and dare” Read More

Photo of a smiling Alison Wiley carrying a large backpack and holding out a cellphone.

“Everything in Life Requires Confidence”

How a U of T prof taught Alison Wiley the art of negotiation Read More

Photo of a scene in Jabberwocky: Ma is sitting in a chair holding her son, and Pa is standing next to her.

The Monsters in Your Head

The Old Trout Puppet Workshop’s latest production, Jabberwocky, speaks to our deepest fears Read More

A Prisoner No More

My eating disorder felt like a life sentence. Now recovered, I help other people overcome theirs Read More

60 Seconds With Nora Polley

As Stratford’s long-time stage manager, her job was not to be noticed Read More

Photo of a student speaking into a hand-held microphone and pointing to a chart. A teacher is recording the student, and the image is displayed on two television screens.

Your Education Will Be Televised

A U of T library student delivers a high-tech talk Read More