Convenience, Coolness and Utility

The use of wearable technology has exploded in the last decade, and along with it, a host of questions about data sharing, privacy and regulation. Chris Harrison, professor in the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, joins the podcast to discuss privacy versus convenience, the spe…

Teaching Robots Common Sense

Though robots are becoming more capable, training them to move through our world with knowledge that humans intuit is incredibly difficult. But through rethinking the concept of safety, incorporating new kinds of data and finding the value in failure, Andrea Bajcsy, an assistant professor in the Ro…

Skeptics Don't Create the Future

How do you start a supersonic jet company from scratch? For Blake Scholl, a computer science degree was the first step. Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic and Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science alum, talks silencing the sonic boom, designing the future of air travel and how a fondne…

Does Compute Season 3 is Here!

Welcome to Does Compute, the podcast where we explore how computer science is changing our world, from artificial intelligence and robotics to ethics, policy, and culture. In each episode, we meet the people behind the technology and ask the questions driving their work. Does Compute is produced by…

The Magic Comes From the Human Connection

Teaching computer science is an ever-evolving practice, and with the explosion of large language models that can source information in the blink of an eye, Anil Ada knows he doesn't have all the answers. Ada, an associate teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University, helms one of the core cours…

What You End Up With is a More Skilled Workforce

To integrate AI and autonomous systems into someone's work day, you first need to understand their job. That's why Nik Martelaro and Sarah Fox are working with public transit operators and riders from across the country to help design the future of public transit systems, and create a model for saf…

Read Your Car's Terms of Service

"Your personal information has been part of a security breach." As more aspects of life are brought online, how do we protect personal information? Sarah Scheffler, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University, discusses how applied cryptography works to protect privacy, and what privacy me…

You Can't Understand It Until You Feel It

Virtual and augmented reality are becoming more prevalent, but full-immersion still seems far away. Vivian Shen, a doctoral student in Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, is exploring how to create truly immersive experiences, from our lips to the pads of our feet.

Teaching Models to Forget Information

As artificial intelligence-enabled systems become more integrated, how can computer science ensure these systems prioritize safety and security? Virginia Smith, the Leonardo Associate Professor of Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University, discusses the balance between prioritizing AI safety, …

We Actually Built An Actuated Wall

Embracing technology in our everyday lives shouldn’t be limited to the computers in our pockets or on our wrists. Alexandra Ion, assistant professor in Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science, explores how technology can be adaptive and interactive, from moving walls to doors, and w…