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Yilang Peng’s innate inquisitiveness regarding individuals initially guided him towards a fascination with journalism.
While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he cultivated a simultaneous enthusiasm by delving into geology, quickly securing science writing opportunities as an intern for National Geographic in his home country of China.
By the time he arrived in the United States in 2012, where he ultimately finished his doctoral studies in communication at the University of Pennsylvania, Peng’s extensive interests began to coalesce around the domain of computational social science.
Essentially, he employs machine learning — “educating” computers to scrutinize data on a vast scale — to examine how visual media influences human actions and decision-making, affecting everything from electoral choices to dietary preferences.
Consider it an ideal fusion of Peng’s enduring curiosities regarding science and humanity.
“I’ve always had a keen interest in human psychology,” remarked Peng, an associate professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “The deeper I became involved in this journey, the more I understood that people’s decision-making processes are incredibly intricate, influenced not just by knowledge, but also by their backgrounds, feelings, and attitudes toward the scientific community and various topics. It’s a highly dynamic and multifaceted procedure.”
Peng has harnessed computer vision to scrutinize thousands of images, ranging from politicians’ Instagram accounts to food influencers’ depictions of high-calorie dishes, including the “photorealism” of Artificial Intelligence Generated Images (AIGI) on social media.
Note: it’s increasingly challenging to differentiate AI-generated visuals from authentic photographs.
Another recent scholarly article investigated the “fitspiration” phenomenon on Instagram — images that ostensibly advocate for a healthy lifestyle by presenting motivational examples — to assess the effects of objectification on viewers’ body image.
His research has garnered him the university’s Charles B. Knapp Early Career Scholar Award this year, and he has been highlighted in Forbes, the Washington Post, and on ABC.
Peng’s research outcomes aid in clarifying the escalating challenge of misinformation and media trust, while illuminating how individuals formulate opinions and make decisions based on social and various types of visual media.
“This concern has progressed over time,” he stated. “Many issues are becoming increasingly polarized, thus it’s essential to comprehend why people think in certain ways and why they favor one issue over another.”
A prolific researcher, Peng also instructs courses on social entrepreneurship and consumer analytics, guiding students on how to apply data science to deepen their understanding of human psychology and navigate the frequently overwhelming information landscape.
Peng emphasized the importance of equipping students with the skills necessary to keep pace with evolving technology, including the ability to recognize and evaluate AI “hallucinations,” or the propensity to generate erroneous or misleading information.
“We must adopt this experimental vision, perceiving myself as an innovator in education,” Peng expressed. “This novel technology is transforming our approach to data analysis and storytelling, but we still need to establish a solid foundation for these students.”
He praised today’s students for being “exceptionally imaginative” and receptive to new technologies but stressed that it is equally vital for them to cultivate critical thinking skills to effectively utilize these tools.
“Reflecting on how I tackle this issue, it’s not just about the technology itself, but also about assisting students in developing a mindset for approaching it,” he noted. “Ultimately, it’s about fostering a mindset and identifying innovative solutions they can contribute, while embracing new prospects.”
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