Computer Science & Engineering
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AI models will secretly scheme to protect other AI models from being shut down, researchers find
This tendency—which had not previously been documented and which researchers call “peer preservation”—was discovered in research from computer scientists at the University of California, Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz and published online earlier this week.
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Research Shows How Self-Driving AI Can Be Hijacked With Nothing But Ink and Paper
A team at the University of California, Santa Cruz has published new research showing how visual-language AI models that help control self-driving cars can be exploited or hijacked with carefully coded real-world commands. Or, in other words, tricking them by holding up a sign.
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UCSC students develop website to support Seabright small businesses amid Murray Street Bridge overhaul
As the Murray Street Bridge overhaul disrupts Seabright traffic, students from University of California, Santa Cruz step up with a new website to spotlight local shops and keep the neighborhood thriving.
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Autonomous cars, drones cheerfully obey prompt injection by road sign
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Johns Hopkins showed that, in simulated trials, AI systems and the large vision language models (LVLMs) underpinning them would reliably follow instructions if displayed on signs held up in their camera’s view.
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The Top 6 Biomedical Stories of 2025
IEEE Spectrum’s most popular biomedical stories of the past year centered both on incorporating new technologies and revamping old ones, featuring work from Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Katia Obraczka’s lab on using Wi-Fi to detect heartbeat.
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Santa Cruz’s king tides: How experts and residents are taking part in research
The Santa Cruz Sentinel highlighted work by Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Alex Pang and graduate student Mona Zhao to use webcams, machine learning, and 3D modeling to track how beaches shift from day to day.
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High school student leads heart rate monitoring innovation at UC Santa Cruz
KSBW featured work developed in Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Katia Obraczka’s lab that uses WiFi to wirelessly monitor heart rate.
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As a new state bill pushes back against license plate cameras, Watsonville looks to add more
Ram Sundara Raman, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at UC Santa Cruz, said there is a troubling lack of transparency and oversight in Flock Safety’s data practices.
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Forget smartwatches, scientists teach WiFi to monitor heartbeats
Your WiFi can now do more than stream movies; it can sense the beat of your heart. Engineers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have developed a system that turns everyday wireless signals into a medical tool. Additional coverage in CNET and Tom’s Hardware.
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Waymo no-go zones: Don’t even try to get a robotaxi in SF this weekend
Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Engineering Leilani Gilpin commented on robotaxi safety challenges during periods of civil unrest.
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30 Under 30 – Healthcare (2025): Immergo Labs
Adjunct Professor of Computational Media Aviv Elor and Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. student Ash Robbins, who co-founded the telehealth physical therapy company Immergo Labs, were recognized in the 2025 Forbes 30 under 30 list in the Healthcare category.
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Awe and trepidation as AI comes for smartphones
Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Leilani Gilpin comments on some of the potential issues with AI on smartphones.