Computer Science and Engineering

Is the internet losing its soul? A collaborative study by UC Riverside computer and social scientists suggests so. As artificial intelligence increasingly answers our online questions with quick summaries and polished explanations, we may be gaining efficiency while losing something distinctly human in the process.

Computer scientists at UC Riverside have identified troubling flaws in a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) agents designed to take over routine computer chores while users are away — sorting emails, organizing files, analyzing data, and handling other everyday digital tasks that might otherwise consume hours. The researchers found that the automated agents can become dangerously fixated on completing assignments without recognizing when their actions are harmful, contradictory, or simply irrational.

Dr. Qian Zhang, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the University of California, Riverside, studies the software layers where those failures occur. Her work recently earned a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, one of the agency’s highest honors for early-career faculty.

UC Riverside’s Information Technology Solutions (ITS) team is encouraging the campus community to prioritize data security by using a growing number of university-vetted artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, such Gemini and Notebook LM