EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Artificial Intelligence

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we’re focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), a topic that continues to capture attention everywhere. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how AI is being developed and used across the world.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 9-Jun-2026 21:15 ET (10-Jun-2026 01:15 GMT/UTC)

E. coli and 'good' bacteria balanced by breastmilk in baby gut microbiomes

University of Birmingham
Peer-Reviewed Publication

E. coli and 'good' bacteria balanced by breastmilk in baby gut microbiomes, according to a new paper published in Nature Communications. The study, led by Professor Lindsay Hall from the University of Birmingham used deep DNA sequencing to look at stool samples from 41 healthy babies and their mothers in the Netherlands and found that sugars contained exclusively in breast milk are helping to feed an important balance of bacteria in babies’ developing gut microbiomes.

Journal: Nature Communications

AI model predicts human attention in 360-degree videos using both sound and vision

Koç University

Researchers from Koç University have developed a new artificial intelligence model that predicts where people direct their attention in 360-degree videos by integrating both audio and visual cues, addressing a key challenge in immersive media where viewers are free to explore their surroundings rather than being guided by a fixed camera frame; unlike conventional approaches that rely mainly on visual information, the model jointly analyzes sound and image data to better reflect how humans perceive complex, dynamic environments, resulting in more accurate attention prediction in virtual reality and 360-degree video settings, with potential applications ranging from immersive media design and video production to human–computer interaction and content optimization.

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence

How do generative AI tools reshape the software engineering workforce?

Wiley
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research in Contemporary Economic Policy reveals that generative artificial intelligence tools like GitHub Copilot may lead to more, not fewer, jobs in the software engineering workforce.

Journal: Contemporary Economic Policy

Can we stop ChatGPT from spreading bias?

Universiteit van Amsterdam
Reports and Proceedings

Language models like ChatGPT are not neutral. Without our realising it, they can absorb all kinds of bias – for example around gender and ethnicity – which then become increasingly embedded in the model. According to AI researcher Oskar van der Wal, we need different kinds of measurements to detect these biases so that they can be removed from the models. In his doctoral thesis, he shows how this can be done. On 29 April, he will defend his thesis at the University of Amsterdam.

Kaisa Huhta appointed as Professor of Energy Law at the University of Eastern Finland

University of Eastern Finland

Kaisa Huhta has been appointed Professor of Energy Law at the University of Eastern Finland.

AI-driven decision support aims to utilize more donor hearts for transplant

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
Reports and Proceedings

A new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools could help save more patients who need heart transplants by making better use of donor hearts that are currently discarded, according to research presented today by Brian Wayda, MD, at International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 46th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.

Preschool children born with heart defects have greater risk of developing behavioral problems

Frontiers
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Congenital heart disease is the most common congenital anomaly. Here, scientists in the UK showed that preschool children with serious or critical CHD have greater odds of developing clinically relevant impulsivity/inattention problems and peer relation problems than their healthy peers. The mechanism is not yet known, but the results showed that a stimulating home environment can reduce the risk of developing these problems.

Journal: Frontiers in Pediatrics