A conversation with Ellie, a USC-created virtual therapist, helps calm the nerves of a writer concerned about AI, machine learning and related ominous-sounding stuff.

By Marc Ballon

The following is an imagined Q&A between Hardesty and Ellie about very real things.

Q. Hold on a second, Ellie, I need to sign off of Netflix. OK, I’m good to go. How are you?

A. I’m fine, Greg. What were you watching?

Q. “Ex Machina,” “I, Robot,” “Minority Report.” I’m on a binge-watching kick. Next up in my...

You are what your friends eat, according to USC researchers whose study aims to prevent obesity and diabetes in kids; AI may be able to find friends who are good influences

BY Connie Choy

Do you have that friend you go out with to indulge on all the scrumptious (and unhealthy) delicacies L.A. has to offer? Or how about that other friend who eats organic and always makes you feel like an unhealthy chicken nugget? Chances are you have both — and you’re also probably one of them.

Peers can wield a lot of influence when it comes to our lifestyle choices...

USC engineers and scientists will use $169 million in Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative grants to make "living" devices and illuminate mysterious chemical reactions

BY Greg Hardesty

They’re bringing together computers and biology, creating half-living, half-electronic devices. They’re also looking for molecules that could result in propellants that ignite far more powerfully than ever before. And that’s just for starters.

The collaborative event attended by civic officials and nonprofits highlights significant achievements over the past year

By Judith Lipsett

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