Recent News & Accomplishments
2023
The innovative concept is a dataset that teaches machine learning systems to recognize 20 different types of fruits and vegetables in various forms.
While significant advancements have been made in computer vision the past few years, teaching a computer to identify objects as they change shape remains an Achilles heel in the field, particularly with generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Computer science researchers at the University of Maryland have come up with an innovative project to tackle this problem, using objects that we alter everyday—fruits and vegetables. Their end product is Chop & Learn, a dataset that teaches machine learning systems to recognize 20 different types of fruits and vegetables in various forms—... read more
Grant funds bilingual capabilities of health chatbot for moms of babies.
A University of Maryland chatbot under development to help bleary-eyed new moms manage the uncertainty of caring for a baby will soon field questions in both English and Spanish, thanks to a new grant from the National Institutes of Health. The AI-based app called Rosie aims to bridge the divide in care for new mothers and babies of color by providing 24-hour, validated health information on topics ranging from medication dosages to major milestones and recognize signs of postpartum depression. It initially received a $3.7 million NIH grant in 2021; the additional $200,000 awarded last month... read more
Established in 2021, the Mokhtarzada Hatchery supports UMD students in conceptualizing and launching startups.
The Mokhtarzada Hatchery Program in the University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science revealed the student teams selected for the 2023-24 academic year. Established in 2021, the Mokhtarzada Hatchery supports University of Maryland students in conceptualizing and launching startups. Nestled within the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, the Hatchery offers aspiring entrepreneurs with workspaces, mentorship and the opportunity for annual funding of up to $10,000 per team. The Mokhtarzada Hatchery Program is generously funded by UMD alumni and siblings Haroon,... read more
The ambitious technology is paving the way for devices to have a sense of smell.
The phrase “got your nose,” often accompanied by the pretend seizing of the nose, is part of a quaint childhood game. But wouldn’t it be quite useful if we really could transport our sense of smell elsewhere to help recognize different fragrances or even odors that we do not typically detect? If we could safely use the sense of smell to identify unfamiliar scents in our surroundings, we could be alerted to potential dangers like chemical spills or even trace the location of a lost person. This is the ambitious goal of the “bio-nose” project led by mechanical engineering professor Elisabeth... read more
The UMD and Harvard team developed an innovative defense against adversarial prompts that aim to trick large language models (LLMs) into producing harmful content.
Researchers from the University of Maryland and Harvard University have developed an innovative defense against adversarial prompts that aim to trick large language models (LLMs) into producing harmful content. LLMs, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, are advanced artificial intelligence systems trained on vast amounts of text data. They are designed to understand, generate and interact using human-like language, making them valuable tools for tasks such as translation, content generation and answering queries. However, their vast knowledge and adaptability also pose challenges in ensuring they... read more
UMD Computer Science Students take part in the Fall 2023 Career and Internship Fair at The Hotel.
Bright minds and eager faces were aplenty at UMD’s Department of Computer Science's Fall Career and Internship Fair held on September 19, 2023. While a lineup of leading companies marked their presence, it was undeniably the students who took center stage, radiating innovation, expertise and ambition. Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of The Hotel situated across from the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, students confidently engaged with company booths, fostering connections and showcasing their impressive portfolios—a testament to the university's unwavering commitment... read more
Hal Daumé III who is Heading the New $20M NSF-Backed Institute Says Systems Should Support Societal Good
At least in the movies, we love artificial intelligence, but is it trustworthy? Nah. Judging from “The Terminator’s” killer bot, the cloyingly malignant computer in “2001: A Space Odyssey” and the sunglasses-wearing agents in “The Matrix,” AIs are jerks. But the idea that AI can do good rather than evil is the force behind the multi-institutional Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) at UMD, backed by a $20 million National Science Foundation grant. TRAILS explores decidedly real-world AI problems: gender-biased recommendations from hiring systems, racist mortgage offers... read more
Mirani is spearheading a voter registration drive at UMD's farmer's market ahead of the College Park city election
University of Maryland student liaison Dhruvak Mirani and deputy student liaison Gannon Sprinkle held a voter registration drive Wednesday at this university’s Farmer’s Market to increase student turnout in this November’s College Park city election. Mirani, a sophomore government and politics and computer science major, and Sprinkle, a sophomore government and politics major, hoped Wednesday’s event would both increase voter turnout, and help them understand student concerns in the lead-up to November’s election. The pair held the voter registration drive for the second consecutive Wednesday... read more
The research center, funded by UMD and quantum computing company IonQ, is the nation’s first facility that allows researchers to use a commercial-grade quantum computer.
More than 100 people gathered at IonQ’s College Park headquarters Tuesday for the opening of the National Quantum Laboratory. The National Quantum Laboratory , located just off campus, was created in partnership with the University of Maryland and quantum computing company IonQ. The research center is the nation’s first facility that allows researchers to use a commercial-grade quantum computer. A nearly $20 million investment from this university helped furnish the research center with cutting-edge technology and workspaces, which will connect leaders in quantum computing research. The... read more
The Department of Computer Science’s Undergrad Program Shines in 2024 U.S. News Rankings; Top 10 Publicly in Cybersecurity, Data Science and AI.
The University of Maryland’s undergraduate computer science program ranks 9th among the country’s public institutions and 18th overall in the 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges.” UMD also ranks in the top 10 among public institutions in three undergraduate computer science specialties: Cybersecurity: #7 public (11th overall) Data Analytics/Science: #7 public (13th overall) Artificial Intelligence: #9 public (15th overall) Undergraduate computer science programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report for the past four years and UMD has ranked in the top 10... read more