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: 13-May-2026 14:15 ET (13-May-2026 18:15 GMT/UTC)

EdUHK showcases two major AI education tools "Technology + Humanities" supporting language learning and emotional health

The Education University of Hong Kong

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has long been committed to advancing education technology that integrates innovation with human-centred design. Yesterday, the University announced the application of two inventions developed by its researchers. First is a language‑learning social robot designed for nursery and primary children. In trials, the robot boosted English comprehension scores by up to 21.2% and extended attention spans by 5.43% during a 20-minutes reading session, outperforming both tablets and more mechanical-looking robots.

The second innovation, EmoCare, is an AI-powered emotional health support application built on the positive psychology model PERMA. It helps users avoid excessive immersion in negative states by embedding positive elements into generated images and conversations, thereby supporting emotional regulation. The launch comes amid growing concern over adolescent suicides linked to unmoderated online chat rooms powered by generative AI without structured psychological safeguards.

Perceiving AI as a ‘job killer’ negatively influences attitudes toward democracy

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When people perceive artificial intelligence as replacing human labor, trust in democracy and political participation decline.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Continued exposure to certain heavy metals linked to ADHD in childhood

Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Impulsivity, hyperactivity and difficulty concentrating are some of the symptoms associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is estimated that 6% of schoolchildren in Catalonia suffer to a greater or lesser extent from this neurodevelopmental condition. Although genetic factors are the main cause, environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants can increase the risk of developing ADHD or can intensify its symptoms. “These factors influence brain development during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life,” warned Fina Canals, a researcher with the URV’s Nutrition and Mental Health research group, which has investigated how exposure to metals affects neuropsychological performance and has linked it to the presence of ADHD during childhood.

Journal: Scientific Reports

How AI agents are transforming solid electrolyte discovery

Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent review article explores how software-based AI systems are changing the design process of solid electrolytes, enabling faster development of solid-state batteries.

AI tools improve diagnostics and patient outcome prediction in resource-limited healthcare settings

Duke-NUS Medical School
Peer-Reviewed Publication

After a cardiac arrest, families and doctors are often faced with agonising uncertainty about a patient’s chances of recovery. This uncertainty is even greater in hospitals with limited resources, where access to advanced diagnostic tools and large datasets is constrained.

Journal: npj Digital Medicine

From industry engagement to workforce development, the University of Tennessee is leading Tennessee’s AI future

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is spearheading Tennessee’s AI future through the AI Tennessee initiative. By fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and government, UT advances AI research, education, and workforce development. Programs like AI TechX and CECS integrate cutting-edge technologies into curricula, ensuring ethical innovation and impactful applications statewide.

New algorithms allow scientists to simulate nanodevices on a supercomputer

National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) MARVEL
Reports and Proceedings

A research team led by Mathieu Luisier from ETH Zurich and MARVEL has introduced a software package called QuaTrEx (Quantum Transport Simulations at the Exascale and Beyond), that combines in a new way DFT, the GW approximation and the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF). By running it on two supercomputers - one in Switzerland and one in the USA – the Alps supercomputer at the Swiss National Supercomputing Center in Lugano, and on the Frontiers machine at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility in Tennesse, USA - they were able to simulate the behavior of a nanoribbon, the fundamental component of next-generation transistors, made out of over 42,000 atoms. For this work, the group was awarded an Honorable Mention (or second place) at the 2025 ACM Gordon Bell Prize.