UC Merced Magazine | Volume XX, Issue VI

ON THE COVER: AI tools in ChatGPT and Adobe Photoshop generated this interpretation of Michelangelo's famous painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, "The Creation of Adam."

Fall/Winter 2024 Volume XIX, Issue 6 MAGAZINE

In is Issue:

Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz Vice Chancellor/ Chief External Relations Officer E. Edw. Klotzbier Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Advisor, External Relations Danielle Armedilla

4

Donor Impact: The Boldly Forward campaign is benefitting students and the Valley Opinion: How advances in technology can benefit agriculture and the Earth

Editor Senior Writer and Public Information Officer Lorena Anderson Writers Francesca Dinglasan Patty Guerra

6

Alyssa Johansen Andrew Mitchell

Jody Murray Brenda Ortiz Sam Yniguez

AI or human-made? Page 28

Photography & AI-generated Images Veronica Adrover Melvin Diaz Alfaro ChatGPT Dall-E Ahmed Gaber Erik Jepson

14

Faculty Profile: Professor Shijia Pan is making the world a smarter place Cover Story: What AI can teach us about ourselves AI and the Arts: Is it art if a machine creates it? Sports: UC Merced has joined the NCAA

Jody Murray Zachary Silva Danay Suárez Sam Yniguez

19 26 29

Graphics / Design / Printing Colemar Design Dumont Printing, Fresno Thomas Hudelson Elizabeth Lippincott Mailing Address UC Merced External Relations 5200 Lake Road Merced CA 95343

This season’s arts offerings, Page 12

7

Three Essential Reads: Be inspired to explore the universe with books our astrophysicists love

ucmerced.edu | @ucmerced

Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders of any material printed in this magazine. Any omissions will be righted in subsequent issues if notice is given to the editors.

3

UC MERCED MAGAZINE // ucmerced.edu