IST Research Talks: Dongwon Lee
Date & Time: October 08, 2026 from 12:05 PM - 01:15 PM
Location: Westgate Building | E339
Join Dongwon Lee, Frymoyer Chair in Information Sciences and Technology and head of IST's Department of Privacy and Cybersecurity Informatics, for "Hallucinate, Fabricate, and Manipulate: The Dark Side of Generative AI." The event is part of the IST Research Talks, a series of lectures that highlight the interdisciplinary work of Penn State faculty and scholars.
Abstract
The rapid rise of generative AI has empowered the creation of high-quality content across text, image, and audio modalities. Yet, alongside these advancements lies a darker reality: such content is not always factually grounded. Large language models (LLMs), in particular, frequently produce false or misleading information--commonly known as hallucinations--due to various limitations in training and inference. Beyond unintentional errors, these technologies are increasingly being weaponized by adversaries to fabricate and manipulate information at scale, fueling the spread of disinformation across platforms and media. In this talk, he will explore how LLMs hallucinate, both organically and through adversarial manipulation, and examine the evolving tactics used to undermine trust in our information ecosystem. He will also present recent NLP research from his group aimed at countering these threats, including efforts to detect and mitigate AI-generated falsehoods across various settings. The talk will conclude with reflections on the broader societal implications of AI’s misuse and the urgent need for proactive safeguards to mitigate its potential harms.
About the Speaker
Dongwon Lee is the Frymoyer Chair in Information Sciences and Technology and the head of the Dept. of Privacy and Cybersecurity Informatics (PCI) within the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) in The Pennsylvania State University, USA. He is an ACM Distinguished Scientist (2019), Fulbright Cyber Security Scholar at U. Cambridge, UK (2022-2023), and CAIS Fellow (2026). Before starting at Penn State, he worked at AT&T Bell Labs, NJ and obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA. From 2015 to 2017, he has also served as a Program Director at National Science Foundation (NSF), co-managing cybersecurity education and research programs and contributing to the development of national research priorities. In general, he researches on the problems in the intersection of cybersecurity, data science, and machine learning. More details of his research can be found at: https://pike.psu.edu/.
Our events and programs are open to all students regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, or any other protected class. The College of Information Sciences and Technology is committed to building a community of belonging for all.