We Need More Nuanced Takes on AI

Can AI foster greater empathy between people? Maarten Sap, an assistant professor in the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, thinks it’s possible. He returns to the podcast to talk about cultural adaptation, the value of storytelling and why the ongoing conversation about AI need…

Agency Is About Having A Voice

From fitness trackers to thermostats, technology is only as useful as it is accessible. But much of the tech we use isn’t designed with ability differences in mind. Patrick Carrington, an assistant professor in Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science, says that considering accessibi…

A Real Opportunity to Disrupt and Defend

Certain corners of the internet are still hubs for human trafficking. But Cara Jones, co-founder and CEO of CMU spin-off Marinus Analytics, thinks ending this kind of exploitation is possible. Learn about how Marinus’s AI tool suite, Traffic Jam, identifies instances of human trafficking online and…

Very Much Inspired By the Nervous System

How is neuroscience shaping the future of AI? Aran Nayebi, an assistant professor in the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, explains why studying animal behavior can inspire more capable autonomous systems, and what we can learn from cats and zebrafish.

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…