Thursday, April 9, 2026

4/10/26: LLMs and Randomized Algorithms

Artificial Intelligence Study Group

Welcome! We meet from 4:00-4:45 p.m. Central Time on Fridays. Anyone can join. Feel free to attend any or all sessions, or ask to be added to the invite list - or removed as we have no wish to send unneeded emails of which we all certainly get too many. 
Contacts: jdberleant@ualr.edu and mgmilanova@ualr.edu
Agenda, Minutes & Status (201st meeting, Apr. 3, 2026)
  • Announcements
    • Today: LLMs and randomized algorithms, https://aintwhatitusedtobe.blogspot.com/p/readings-and-videos-queued-for-possible.html.
    • Soon: Https://dberleant.github.io/HLBresearch/TheUnraveling.html
    • Soon: EWG will give a 5 min. demo of DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) (when?)
    • Soon: DD will give OpenClaw for 5 min. or whatever.
    • AI Hackathon! Announcement: https://aintwhatitusedtobe.blogspot.com/2026/04/ai-hackathon.html
    • Let me know of anything you'd like to have evaluated for a fuller reading, viewing or discussion.
    • For future activities
      • Read/view items suggested by attendees. Evaluate some of them, then do one which is highest in full.
      • What if we read from papers authored by people in this group? Then an author would be present to help everyone understand it.
      • Invite paper authors at UALR or anywhere to host a reading session on the abstract and various paragraphs of a paper they published or plan to submit.
      • Any projects that MS students can sign up for? If anyone has an idea for an MS project where the student reports to us for a few minutes each week for discussion and feedback - a student might potentially be recruited! Let me know. 
        • Please suggest a project!
    • Any other announcements? 






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AI Hackathon!

 AI Hackathon!

 

Daniel Berleant <jdberleant@ualr.edu>
UA Little Rock AI Hackathon & HealthTech Startup Week - join us!
1 message
Marla Johnson <mkjohnson@ualr.edu>Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 6:54 PM
The fastest way to learn about the UA Little Rock AI Hackthon & HealthTech Startup Week June 8 - 12:https://youtu.be/JvrF6hwmCVU  

We have raised $60k from UA Little Rock departments and UAMS BioVentures to make our AI Hackathon and HealthTech Startup Week in Little Rock free to 150 students across the state and region. $20K of that will be used for prize money for winning teams. 

NVIDIA and Google have stepped up to help. NVIDIA is providing 24-7 tech support and access to their Healthcare Frameworks/Platforms. We are providing AI classes and certifications. Local healthcare providers are creating challenges that would bring them value. We have dorms for students and a few faculty coming from over an hour away. Our healthcare and tech partners are showing up to mentor the students and recruit them to work. 

I need your help. This is BIG! Please, help us recruit high school and college students ages 16 to 26. Sign up to be a mentor! Join us for the Demo & Pitch Day. Join my planning committee. (Nothing virtual -- all in person.)

All the links below and attachments will fill in any gaps. Please, spread the word. 

Thanks! Marla 

 

Important Dates:

  • Application Deadline: April 30, 2026.
  • Acceptance Notification: May 8, 2026.
  • Team & Challenge Reveal: May 15, 2026.

LINKS TO LEARN MORE.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/fcDgLzMJqNI

WEB: ualr.at/hackathoncamp 

WEB: https://ualr.edu/techlaunch/event/ai-hackathon-healthtech-startup/


ACT NOW. SIGN UP.

Student Sign-up: https://forms.gle/wXyAkYXQ2Rn23LoZ7

Mentor & Educator Sign-up: https://forms.gle/wHXLge9XX75mmJXm9

Sign-up to Attend Demo & Pitch Day, June 12th: https://forms.gle/nh7Txeyuv6vZjmk9A

 


 

 

 





Marla Johnson | Tech Entrepreneur-in-Residence
c: 501.551.0095 | e: mkjohnson@ualr.edu
My Calendly Link for scheduling. 





 

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Friday, April 3, 2026

4/3/26: Guest presentation (AK)

Artificial Intelligence Study Group

Welcome! We meet from 4:00-4:45 p.m. Central Time on Fridays. Anyone can join. Feel free to attend any or all sessions, or ask to be added to the invite list - or removed as we have no wish to send unneeded emails of which we all certainly get too many. 
Contacts: jdberleant@ualr.edu and mgmilanova@ualr.edu
Agenda, Minutes & Status (201st meeting, Apr. 3, 2026)
  • Announcements
    • Today: Guest presentation on AI at Walmart and Spark Columbus.
    • Soon: Https://dberleant.github.io/HLBresearch/TheUnraveling.html
    • Soon: EWG will give a 5 min. demo of DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) (when?)
    • Soon: DD will give OpenClaw for 5 min. or whatever.
    • Let me know of anything you'd like to have evaluated for a fuller reading, viewing or discussion.
    • For future activities
      • Read/view items suggested by attendees. Evaluate some of them, then do one which is highest in full.
      • What if we read from papers authored by people in this group? Then an author would be present to help everyone understand it.
      • Invite paper authors at UALR or anywhere to host a reading session on the abstract and various paragraphs of a paper they published or plan to submit.
      • Any projects that MS students can sign up for? If anyone has an idea for an MS project where the student reports to us for a few minutes each week for discussion and feedback - a student might potentially be recruited! Let me know. 
        • Please suggest a project!
    • Any other announcements? 




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3/27/26: AI-simulated handwriting; evaluate potential readings/viewings

Artificial Intelligence Study Group

Welcome! We meet from 4:00-4:45 p.m. Central Time on Fridays. Anyone can join. Feel free to attend any or all sessions, or ask to be added to the invite list - or removed as we have no wish to send unneeded emails of which we all certainly get too many. 
Contacts: jdberleant@ualr.edu and mgmilanova@ualr.edu
Agenda, Minutes & Status (200th meeting, Mar. 27, 2026)
  • Announcements
    • To reschedule: Arun Kaarat (Walmart and Ohio learning initiative) will discuss applying AI. Plan is to reschedule for April 3.
    • Today: AI can simulate handwriting on a piece of paper...https://aintwhatitusedtobe.blogspot.com/2026/03/can-ai-draw-by-hand.html
    • Soon: Https://dberleant.github.io/HLBresearch/TheUnraveling.html
    • Today: Evaluate some potential readings/viewings
    • Soon: EWG will give a 5 min. demo of DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) (when?)
    • Soon: DD will give OpenClaw for 5 min. or whatever.
    • Let me know of anything you'd like to have evaluated for a fuller reading, viewing or discussion.
    • For future activities
      • Read/view items suggested by attendees. Evaluate some of them, then do one which is highest in full.
      • What if we read from papers authored by people in this group? Then an author would be present to help everyone understand it.
      • Invite paper authors at UALR or anywhere to host a reading session on the abstract and various paragraphs of a paper they published or plan to submit.
      • Any projects that MS students can sign up for? If anyone has an idea for an MS project where the student reports to us for a few minutes each week for discussion and feedback - a student might potentially be recruited! Let me know. 
        • Please suggest a project!
    • Any other announcements? 


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Friday, March 20, 2026

3/20/26

Artificial Intelligence Study Group

Welcome! We meet from 4:00-4:45 p.m. Central Time on Fridays. Anyone can join. Feel free to attend any or all sessions, or ask to be added to the invite list - or removed as we have no wish to send unneeded emails of which we all certainly get too many. 
Contacts: jdberleant@ualr.edu and mgmilanova@ualr.edu
Agenda, Minutes & Status (199th meeting, Mar. 20, 2026)
  • Announcements
    • To reschedule: Arun Kaarat (Walmart and Ohio learning initiative) will discuss applying AI. Plan is to reschedule for April 3.
    • Today? AI can simulate handwriting on a piece of paper...https://aintwhatitusedtobe.blogspot.com/2026/03/can-ai-draw-by-hand.html
    • Today? Https://dberleant.github.io/HLBresearch/TheUnraveling.html
    • Today? Evaluate some potential readings/viewings
    • Soon: EWG will give a 5 min. demo of DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) (when?)
    • Soon: DD will give OpenClaw for 5 min. or whatever.
    • Let me know of anything you'd like to have evaluated for a fuller reading, viewing or discussion.
    • For future activities
      • Read/view items suggested by attendees. Evaluate some of them, then do one which is highest in full.
      • What if we read from papers authored by people in this group? Then an author would be present to help everyone understand it.
      • Invite paper authors at UALR or anywhere to host a reading session on the abstract and various paragraphs of a paper they published or plan to submit.
      • Any projects that MS students can sign up for? If anyone has an idea for an MS project where the student reports to us for a few minutes each week for discussion and feedback - a student might potentially be recruited! Let me know. 
        • Please suggest a project!
    • Any other announcements? 
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Friday, March 13, 2026

3/13/36: Read from proposal "Evaluating Biological-Inspired Neural Architectures Against Strong Machine Learning Baselines"

Artificial Intelligence Study Group

Welcome! We meet from 4:00-4:45 p.m. Central Time on Fridays. Anyone can join. Feel free to attend any or all sessions, or ask to be added to the invite list - or removed as we have no wish to send unneeded emails of which we all certainly get too many. 
Contacts: jdberleant@ualr.edu and mgmilanova@ualr.edu
Agenda, Minutes & Status (198th meeting, Mar. 13, 2026)
  • Announcements
    • March 20: Arun Kaarat (Walmart and Ohio learning initiative) will discuss applying AI.
    • Today: BI will be present to explain as we read passages from her masters proposal.
    • AI can simulate handwriting on a piece of paper...https://aintwhatitusedtobe.blogspot.com/2026/03/can-ai-draw-by-hand.html
    • A new forum for connecting about AI: https://www.intherock.ai.
    • "Go Fourth Fridays" series: 4th Friday of each month at Noon - 1:30. Free pizza and AI real-world AI insights. Reynolds First Floor Atrium. Noon - 12:30: Lunch & networking (FREE PIZZA! 🍕)
          12:30 - 1:30: Presentations & open mic for YOUR ideas. Contact: Marla Johnson mkjohnson@ualr.edu
    • Let me know of anything you'd like to have us evaluate for a fuller reading, viewing or discussion. 
    • Other plans for future meetings
      • Read/view items suggested by attendees. Evaluate some of them, then do one which is highest in full.
      • What if we read from papers authored by people in this group? Then an author would be present to help everyone understand it.
      • Invite paper authors at UALR or anywhere to host a reading session on the abstract and various paragraphs of a paper they published or plan to submit.
    • Any projects that MS students can sign up for? If anyone has an idea for an MS project where the student reports to us for a few minutes each week for discussion and feedback - a student might potentially be recruited! Let me know. 
      • Please suggest a project!
    • Any other announcements? 
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Can AI write by hand?

Prompt: Can you generate an image containing a scribble that looks human-drawn?

Response: 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prompt: pretty good. Now write sentence with part of it scribbled out and replaced with other text.

Response:


Prompt: Make the same image but this time make it look like it is on a realistic, real piece of paper that someone took a cell phone snapshot of.

Response:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prompt: nice try but the "paper" doesn't have edges that curl up or are distinguishable from the background, so it still looks AI-generated.

Response: 

Ah, I see exactly what you mean—right now it looks like a flat “floating” piece of paper. To make it look more like a real sheet someone photographed with a phone, we need a few visual cues:

  1. Visible edges – the paper’s edges should be slightly irregular, not perfectly rectangular.

  2. Curvature / curl – small bends or corners curling up make it feel tactile.

  3. Shadows – soft shadows cast by the edges on the surface below make it sit in 3D space.

  4. Surface context – a subtle texture or background behind the paper (like a desk or table) prevents the floating-paper look.

  5. Lighting nuance – slight gradients or reflections that a phone camera would naturally capture.

We can generate a new image of your sentence incorporating all of these, so it looks like an actual phone snapshot of a physical piece of paper.

Do you want me to do that next?

Prompt: yes
 
Response:

 

 

 

 




Here is another example submitted by a student in response to a HW problem requesting a cell phone photo of a handwritten sheet of paper.


 

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