New MIT AI System Makes Image Segmentation Faster And Easier - 1

Image by Keith Tanner, from Unsplash

New MIT AI System Makes Image Segmentation Faster And Easier

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

MIT researchers have developed an AI system that helps medical experts to accelerate their research through rapid image analysis of medical data.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Manual segmentation often takes hours and limits research progress.
  • MultiverSeg learns from user clicks and scribbles to improve accuracy.
  • Unlike other tools, it doesn’t need large presegmented datasets.

The tool, called MultiverSeg, allows scientists to mark specific image areas, by simply clicking or scribbling, and the system uses this information to generate predictions for upcoming results.

MIT explains that the initial and most labor-intensive process in clinical research requires medical image annotation, also known as segmentation. For example, to study how the hippocampus in the brain changes with age, researchers must manually trace it across various scans.

“Many scientists might only have time to segment a few images per day for their research because manual image segmentation is so time-consuming. Our hope is that this system will enable new science by allowing clinical researchers to conduct studies they were prohibited from doing before because of the lack of an efficient tool,” said Hallee Wong, lead author and graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science.

Unlike previous systems, MultiverSeg does not require researchers to train it with large presegmented datasets. The system creates a “context set” from past segmented images and uses them to improve future predictions. The researchers explain that the system requires almost no user interaction as time progresses.

The researchers tested MultiverSeg against state-of-the-art tools, and found it required fewer clicks and scribbles, and produced more accurate results. Indeed, the AI system required only one or two manual segmentations of X-rays before it could make accurate predictions for the remaining areas.

“With MultiverSeg, users can always provide more interactions to refine the AI predictions. This still dramatically accelerates the process because it is usually faster to correct something that exists than to start from scratch,” Wong explained.

The team plans to test the system in clinical settings, with hopes that it could also improve efficiency in areas such as radiation treatment planning.

AI Can Now Pass One Of The World’s Most Prestigious Financial Exams - 2

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AI Can Now Pass One Of The World’s Most Prestigious Financial Exams

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

A new study conducted by researchers from New York University Stern School of Business and the AI company GoodFin revealed that several AI models are capable of successfully passing the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam at its most difficult level.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Study reveals advanced AI models can successfully pass the prestigious CFA exam at its most difficult levels.
  • Researchers discovered that models with “chain-of-thought prompting”, such as Claude Opus, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and o4-mini, can pass level III.
  • A similar study was conducted two years ago, and the models failed the most challenging part.

According to CNBC , it typically takes humans around 1,000 hours of study to pass the three-part exam. Now, AI models can complete it in minutes, even at Level III, the most challenging stage.

The CFA exam , designed to assess skills and knowledge across multiple areas of investments, is divided into three levels: Level I focuses on key terms and foundational knowledge, Level II emphasizes situational analysis, and Level III requires integration of concepts in real-world scenarios.

The researchers evaluated 23 large language models on their ability to answer test questions and produce essays for a mock CFA Level III exam. The study found that models using “chain-of-thought prompting”—including Claude Opus, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and o4-mini—were able to pass.

The findings highlight a significant evolution in AI reasoning. Two years ago, research showed that AI models could easily pass Levels I and II but struggled with Level III. Now, newer models like Claude Opus, released in May , demonstrate advanced analytical reasoning.

“I think there’s absolutely a future where this technology transforms the industry,” said Anna Joo Fee, founder and CEO of GoodFin, the AI-powered wealth-management platform that participated in the research.

“There are things like context and intent that are hard for the machine to assess right now,” added Fee, clarifying that, in her view, AI cannot replace the CFA. “That’s where a human shines, in understanding your body language and cues.”

OpenAI recently announced “the largest study to date of how people are using ChatGPT,” in which researchers revealed that 49% of users rely on the chatbot for advice on multiple topics, and the New York Times revealed how people used the technology as a financial advisor .