CSAIL Alliances Podcasts: Recent Episodes
CSAIL Alliances
MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) Alliances serves a gateway into the lab for industry and governmental institutions seeking a closer connection to the work, researchers and students of CSAIL.
When The Jetsons imagined life in 2062, Rosie the robot maid seemed like pure science fiction. Today, chatbots can answer questions, analyze data and even crack jokes. But they still can't load the dishwasher. In this episode of Building 32, MIT CSAIL associate professor Vincent Sitzmann explains why building AI that understands and interacts with the physical world is a fundamentally different challenge. Sitzmann explains why today's AI still struggles with seemingly simple physical tasks and how researchers are teaching machines to see, predict, and interact with the world around them. In this episode:00:00 - Intro03:50 - From electrical engineering to computer science05:05 - What is computer vision?08:32 - Limitations of computer vision09:41 - How do we fix the limitations of computer vision?12:41 - Why can’t LLMs solve computer vision?18:31 - How robots can learn like babies20:57 - The future of robots in homes23:59 - Continual learning and exploration27:25 - Outro Episode Resources:😃Learn more about Vincent Sitzmann: https://www.vincentsitzmann.com/🎥And the Scene Representation Group: https://scenerepresentations.org/📖Read the Nature article Karen referenced: https://bit.ly/45NzH7q 🤖Watch the Jetsons and meet Rosie: https://bit.ly/4bzEHjB Building 32 episodes, meet the host, and more: csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #MIT #CSAIL #Building32 #ArtificialIntelligence #Robotics #TechInnovation #FutureOfAI #Podcast
Long before smartphones, social media, or ChatGPT, researchers at MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) helped lay the groundwork for the modern internet. In this episode of Building 32, MIT CSAIL senior research scientist, internet pioneer and former Chief Protocol Architect David Clark reflects on those early days and explains how a network designed to connect computers became a force that reshaped society. More than fifty years later, Clark is applying those same instincts to Artificial Intelligence. He argues that the biggest challenges aren't about algorithms—they're about power, incentives, and human behavior. Episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more can be found here: csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-team On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #MIT #CSAIL #Building32 #ArtificialIntelligence #InternetHistory #TechInnovation #FutureOfAI #Podcast
MIT has a new podcast. Announcing Building 32, from MIT CSAIL Alliances. Behind every technological breakthrough is a story. From email to the fax machine to the Roomba and even OkCupid, innovations that shape our daily lives trace back to MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, or MIT CSAIL. And technology that is years ahead of the market is being developed in CSAIL labs now. Tune into Building 32 from MIT CSAIL Alliances, hosted by Karen Given, to hear the stories of CSAIL. Each episode features conversations with pioneers who helped define the digital age or researchers shaping tomorrow’s AI, robotics, computing, and beyond. Subscribe now. The first episode launches July 13, 2026. Learn more: csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail#MIT #CSAIL #ArtificialIntelligence #Robotics #ComputerScience #TechPodcast #Innovation #FutureOfTechnology
is transforming daily productivity for those who already know how to code, why software development is becoming a capital-intensive business for the first time in its history, and why the developers who benefit most from AI tools are the ones with the strongest foundations. He also offers a warning on AI agents: that simple attacks have been patched but major vulnerabilities remain, and deploying agents in high-stakes environments without understanding those risks is a gamble organizations shouldn't take yet. Plus, get a closer look at emerging technologies like neurosymbolic programming and areas where human expertise will be more important than ever. Episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more can be found here: csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-team On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #ArtificialIntelligence #AITrends #MachineLearning #TechPodcast #FutureOfWork #SoftwareDevelopment #AIEthics #Innovation
This month we’re featuring a special guest episode from our friends at MIT OpenCourseWare's Chalk Radio. Host Sarah Hansen sits down with Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management and CSAIL PI Andrew Lo for a wide-ranging conversation about money, learning, and making financial advice accessible to everyone. Andrew Lo explains why he believes finance is a language we all need to speak and that an advanced math degree is not required to be successful. Exploring how money quietly shapes nearly every path we take, Professor Lo reflects on his work with MIT OpenCourseWare which reached millions of learners worldwide and why breaking down “impenetrable” financial concepts has become central to his mission. And of course, he tackles the timely question: Should you use ChatGPT to plan your retirement? For many people, hiring a financial advisor might be a financial impossibility, but Professor Andrew Lo and his colleagues are working to develop an AI financial advisor that not only gives ordinary people access to sound financial advice, but ultimately acts with the best interest of the user. Andrew Lo is the faculty director of FinTechAI@CSAIL, a research initiative with CSAIL Alliances. https://cap.csail.mit.edu/members/initiatives/fintechaicsail Find episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more: https://csail.mit.edu/podcast For more episodes from Chalk Radio:https://chalk-radio.simplecast.com/ Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-team On LinkedIn: linkedIn.com/mit-CSAIL License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA #CSAIL #ChalkRadio #FinancialEconomics #FinTech #AIandFinance #PersonalFinance #LifelongLearning
What does AI really mean for jobs, productivity, and the future of work? Recorded with a live audience at the MIT Museum! In this special live taping of the CSAIL Alliances Podcast, host Kara Miller explores big questions on AI and the future of work with two MIT researchers leading research on technology and labor—David Autor, MIT economist and coauthor of The Work of the Future, and Neil Thompson, Director of MIT FutureTech. Together, they unpack what the evidence actually says about AI and work—cutting through hype, fear, and speculation. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping tasks (not just jobs), why productivity gains have been uneven, and what history can teach us about today’s moment. From software development and medicine to insurance, law, and gig work, Autor and Thompson explain when AI acts as a powerful collaborator—and when full automation simply isn’t realistic or cost-effective. This episode offers a grounded, thoughtful look at how AI is actually being used today—and what that means for workers, organizations, and society going forward. Further reading: Joint research paper: https://www.nber.org/papers/w33941 Vox: Here’s a glimmer of hope about AI and jobs: https://www.vox.com/technology/470688/ai-jobs-chatgpt-bubble Episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more can be found here: https://csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn LinkedIn: linkedIn.com/mit-CSAIL #AIandWork #FutureOfJobs #ArtificialIntelligence #EconomicsOfAI #FutureOfWork #MITCSAIL #TechnologyAndLabor #AIResearch
Host Kara Miller sits down with MIT Professor Russ Tedrake, a leading researcher in robotics and AI at CSAIL to explore the rapidly accelerating world of humanoid and intelligent robots. Tedrake takes us behind the scenes of the robotics revolution—from the cultural resistance and skepticism, to the moment everything shifted. Today, major tech leaders are declaring humanoid robots “the biggest product in human history.” But is that true? Is it hype, or are we on the edge of a real technological turning point? Topics Include:01:00 - The Ramp Up of Robots03:00 - Where Will We See Robots?07:44 - Will Robots Replace Humans Soon?13:02 - Robots Entering the Workforce15:32 - Robots and Low Birth Rates20:06 - Robots and Humans Working in the Same Space24:57 - AI Changed the Trajectory of Robots26:42 - The Barriers of a Personal Robot31:37 - The Relationship between Academia and Companies35:37 - Will You Have a Robot in the Home in Five Years? They explore why COVID fundamentally changed how the world views automation and robotics, and dive into the hardest technical challenges in robotics, revealing why the real world is nothing like chess or chatbots. We talk about how AI, control theory, and physical dynamics must work together to create true intelligence, and discuss why humanoid robots may soon become as common and transformative as smartphones. Finally, we examine the growing gap between digital intelligence and embodied intelligence in the physical world, and what it will take to bridge it. Episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more can be found here: https://csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-team On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanoidRobots #FutureOfWork #AIInnovation #TechPodcast #MachineLearning #Automatio
In this episode of MIT CSAIL Alliances, host Kara Miller sits down with Professor Manya Ghobadi, a researcher and entrepreneur bridging the gap between academia and industry. Ghobadi, who has worked at Microsoft Research, Google, and now leads her own startup Systalyze, explores why so many companies struggle to efficiently deploy AI — and how her team is creating the “AI doctor” enterprises didn’t know they needed. From hospitals sitting on mountains of private data to banks seeking smarter fraud detection, Ghobadi explains how better infrastructure and smarter tools can finally unlock AI’s full potential. Tune in for an inside look at how innovation moves from lab to launchpad — and what it takes to make AI work in the real world. Topics Include:00:07 - Origins of Systalze01:40 - AI systems are difficult to build02:53 - Systalyze is like an AI doctor03:38 - How AI can transform the health care industry04:41 - When companies unlock their AI potential05:13 - Academia as an enterprenuer Episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more can be found here: csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #MITCSAIL #AI #Education #MIT #GenerativeAI #Leadership #Technology #csailpodcast
How will AI reshape the future of deep tech, industry, and investment? In this episode of the MIT CSAIL Alliances Podcast, host Kara Miller speaks with Bilal Zuberi, founder and managing partner of Red Glass Capital. A longtime venture capitalist, Zuberi explains why AI isn’t just changing apps and SaaS tools—it’s unlocking massive sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and defense. He shares why he sees AI as the new “cost of intelligence,” what deep tech really means, and how breakthrough innovations could create trillions of dollars in value while tackling humanity’s toughest challenges, from climate change to healthcare. Tune in for a conversation on the future of innovation, the shifting role of academia, and why Zuberi believes we’re moving from being AI consumers to becoming AI creators. Topics Include:02:39 - Introduction to Bilal Zuberi04:43 - What is Deep Tech?06:16 - Using technology to solve important problems10:45 - AI granting access to old dreams and new jobs12:56 - How helpful is AI as a tool?14:52 - How AI is changing the world19:04 - Academia’s role in AI26:09 - The value of venture capital30:12 - How AI will influences jobs33:46 - What will be mainstream in five years?36:13 - Outro Episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more can be found here: https://csail.mit.edu/podcast For Danny Weitzner’s episode:https://soundcloud.com/csail-alliances/how-companies-can-rebuild-trust-around-data-with-danny-weitzner Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #MITCSAIL #AI #Education #MIT #GenerativeAI #Leadership #Technology #csailpodcast
From sports drinks to self-driving cars, some of the most transformative innovations have emerged when universities and businesses join forces. In this episode, host Kara Miller talks with Lori Glover, author of Innovation Alchemy and Managing Director of Global Strategic Alliances at MIT CSAIL, about the surprising ways academic research and industry collaboration shape technology, talent, and the global economy. Together, they explore stories from the invention of Gatorade to modern AI research, the challenges of aligning two very different cultures, and how partnerships can spark unexpected breakthroughs, sometimes changing entire industries. Whether you’re curious about how new ideas move from the lab to the marketplace or want to learn why companies and universities need each other more than ever, this episode offers a deep look into the evolving innovation ecosystem at the juncture of academia and industry.Episodes, listener discounts, meet the host, and more can be found here: https://csail.mit.edu/podcast Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-team On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #MITCSAIL #AI #Education #MIT #GenerativeAI #Leadership #Technology #csailpodcast
AI is transforming radiology, but not at the expense of skilled technicians. In the same way that personal computers and spreadsheets didn’t eliminate accountants, AI is not going to replace radiologists but will instead transform the way they work. MIT CSAIL Professor Polina Golland’s research sits at the intersection of machine learning and healthcare, specifically medical imaging. In this episode, she discusses her team’s groundbreaking work on algorithms that analyze subtle patterns in x-rays, helping detect diseases earlier and understand them more deeply. This conversation covers: 2:00 - How do doctors diagnose heart failure?5:27 - Converting medical imagery to numbers8:20 - Code generation for radiologists9:25 - Weaknesses in the medical system that computing can strengthen16:48 - The choreography of treating a patient20:31 - Turning an algorithm into a product24:26 - Will radiologists be replaced by AI?30:21 - How will AI change medical imagery? Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #MITCSAIL #AI #GenerativeAI #Leadership #Technology #CSAILPodcast
In this special crossover episode, we're bringing you a conversation from our friends at Me, Myself, and AI, a podcast by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group.Walter Sun, Senior VP and Global Head of AI at SAP, joins hosts Shervin Khodabandeh and Sam Ransbotham for a deep dive into how SAP is deploying AI at scale across its platforms, from building a generative AI hub with access to over 30 large language models to developing specialized AI agents that reduce hallucinations. You’ll hear insights into:The real-world use of small vs. large language models How SAP is empowering employees through “AI Days” What AI agents can teach us about specialization and collaboration How to avoid hallucinations with fine-tuned, task-specific agents Building trust and transparency into enterprise AI systems Whether you're an AI enthusiast, enterprise leader, or just curious about how cutting-edge AI is transforming business, hear how AI is shaping industry strategy and transforming the market. For more episodes from Me, Myself, and AI: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/audio-series/me-myself-and-ai/ Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/ On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mit-csail/
Chris Miller, Tufts Professor and author, explains how semiconductors—those tiny chips inside your phone, car, and coffee maker—have become the most critical technology in the world. Today’s global economy, military power, and AI breakthroughs all hinge on who makes the chips and where. In this episode, Dr. Miller explores how the chip industry evolved from independent manufacturing giants to specialized global supply chains and why that’s both a strength and a vulnerability. He breaks down the growing competition between the U.S. and China, the geopolitical risk of relying on Taiwan, and why the future of AI depends not just on better software but on smarter, faster hardware. 💡 Topics Covered:Why semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology The shift from integrated chip companies to design vs. manufacturing specialization How legacy companies like Intel lost ground and what it means for the U.S. The U.S./China tech rivalry and supply chain vulnerabilities AI’s explosive growth and the chip race driving it The surprising role of immigration in America’s tech dominance Why even automakers and retailers are becoming chip-awareLearn more in Dr. Miller’s book, Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology: https://www.christophermiller.net/booksConnect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-team On LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/mit-csail #MITCSAIL #AI #GenerativeAI #Leadership #Technology #CSAILPodcast
Cybersecurity expert and venture capitalist Andy Ellis breaks down why the smartest organizations are using AI to augment their workers, not replace them. Today’s AI systems are best used when they serve as “semi-pro” tools—fast, scalable, surprisingly effective, but still guided by some human oversight. In this conversation, he shares cautionary tales about hallucinations, prompt injections, unintended consequences, and outlines the common pitfalls he already sees companies falling into.You’ll hear:- How to minimize resistance and bring the workforce onboard when deploying AI tools.- Why AI agents should be limited in scope and the advantage of stacking specialized agents which, acting together, enhance productivity and capacity.- Why AI is good for generating content for specific purposes but not good at creating writing, art, or materials which will have lasting impact.- How productivity “nag bots” can help workers get more done. Ellis sees this moment as the next SaaS-level transformation, arguing that the winners of today’s AI arms race will become the trillionaires of tomorrow. Fundamentally, he believes the best way to implement this transformative new technology is to let humans decide and the AIs act.Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn X: x.com/csail_alliancesOn LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mit-csail
Can your phone make you a safer driver? Or is it part of the problem?MIT CSAIL Professor Sam Madden shares the origin story of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a CSAIL spinout using smartphones and AI to prevent car crashes and save lives. In this episode, Professor Madden joins host Kara Miller to explore how accelerometers, algorithms, and well-timed incentives are transforming how we understand and improve driver behavior.Professor Madden reflects on surprising data trends, like why crash rates haven’t fallen despite better car tech, and how the ubiquitous smartphone became a key tool for reducing risk on the road. He also dives into how generative AI is reshaping software development, what it means for education and programming skills, and why trust and privacy remain top concerns when deploying AI across sensitive industries.Covering distracted driving, autonomous vehicles, behavioral nudges, and business infrastructure, Professor Madden reveals what’s working and where the road ahead leads.Topics include:The history of Cambridge Mobile TelematicsThe realities of traffic accidentsHow your phone can track your driving safetyTurning your data into a narrativeThe corrosive effects of phonesLearn more about Professor Madden on his website: https://db.csail.mit.edu/madden/ Or his CSAIL page: https://www.csail.mit.edu/person/sam-madden Read our case study on Cambridge Mobile Telematics: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2023-05/CMT_Case%20Study%20Template_2022.pdf Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn X: https://x.com/csail_alliancesOn LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/mit-csail
Finches, zebras, Darwin... and AI? 🧠🌍Two centuries after Darwin explored the Galápagos, artificial intelligence is transforming how we study and protect the natural world, rapidly expanding what’s possible in biodiversity and ecology research. In this episode, MIT CSAIL Assistant Professor Sara Beery explains how AI is unlocking new possibilities in conservation, from identifying endangered species to analyzing ecosystem health at scale. AI can help biologists collect, process, and interpret enormous volumes of data, unlocking patterns and offering insights that were simply not possible without modern technology.Beery shares her journey, from tagging snow leopards in college to leading global research at the intersection of computer vision and ecology. But she sounds a note of caution: AI has no values of its own and must be paired with human values to tackle the complex tradeoffs behind biodiversity decisions. As these tools become more powerful, it’s up to us to decide how they’re used, and what (or who) we prioritize.🎧 Topics include:Using AI to analyze millions of wildlife imagesWhy computer vision is revolutionizing species identificationThe ethical dilemmas behind conservation decisionsHow researchers are using AI to inform policy and protect ecosystems🔗Learn more about Professor Beery:🌐 Website: https://beerys.github.io/ or her CSAIL page https://www.csail.mit.edu/person/sara-beeryConnect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn X: https://x.com/csail_alliancesOn LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/mit-csail#MITCSAIL #AI #Conservation #Biology #Technology #CSAILPodcast
What happens when every company becomes a tech company—and the geeks take the wheel?Renowned economist, bestselling author, and MIT Principal Research Scientist Andrew McAfee unpacks how AI is transforming corporate strategy—from cement makers to software engineers. Drawing on insights from his book The Geek Way and his startup Workhelix, McAfee shares what he’s hearing from executives around the world, where AI is delivering real ROI, and why understanding how we measure impact is just as important as what we measure.From call centers to material science labs, from spreadsheet power users to the future of education, McAfee examines how generative AI is changing who wins—and how people can avoid getting left behind. He also weighs in on the biggest AI misconceptions, the risks that actually matter, and why Silicon Valley still holds the crown in the age of innovation.Topics include:The management playbook of the futureReal-world studies on AI’s impact in the workplaceWhy AI helps some workers more than othersThe “credibility revolution” in measuring ROIWhat companies get wrong about scaling AIWhether writing—and even coding—will still matter in 10 yearsAndrew McAfee is the Co-Director of the IDE and a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His research investigates how information technology changes the way companies perform, organize themselves, and compete. He is a NYT bestselling author and writes a widely read blog, which is at times one of the 10,000 most popular in the world. Prior to joining MIT Sloan, McAfee was a professor at Harvard Business School. Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn X: https://x.com/csail_alliancesOn LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/mit-csail#MITCSAIL #AI #GenerativeAI #Leadership #Technology #CSAILPodcast
For a full, uncut video version of this show (shot in Professor Andreas' MIT CSAIL office!), watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBV5Bj_NnbA MIT CSAIL Associate Professor Jacob Andreas walks listeners through how LLMs like ChatGPT evolved from academic curiosities to industry-disrupting technologies. Reflecting on the transformations he has observed in AI research, Professor Andreas discusses how some ideas—like linking NLP research to cognitive science—have taken a backseat, while others—like the importance of large-scale training data—remain central. He offers insights on AI use cases, the emergence of models like DeepSeek, and the critical role of human oversight in AI deployment. Acknowledging both the excitement and concerns surrounding AI, Professor Andreas believes that educators and industry alike face a challenge in keeping pace with the ‘moving target’ of AI progress. Plus: learn how AI can be used to decode the language of sperm whales! About the guest: Professor Andreas is an MIT EECS Associate Professor and CSAIL PI. Before joining MIT, he earned his PhD at Berkeley. His group's research focuses on three themes: building machine learning models that learn language in human-like ways, enabling the use of language as a general-purpose tool for building intelligent systems, and developing techniques for understanding machine learning models using language. His group envisions a future built around training, explaining, and interacting with intelligent systems for users of all the world's languages. Learn more about Professor Jacob Andreas and his research here: https://www.mit.edu/~jda/ Want to know more about Professor Andreas' work on the language of sperm whales? Read here: https://news.mit.edu/2024/csail-ceti-explores-sperm-whale-alphabet-0507 MIT's CSAIL Alliances Podcast is your guide to how AI & computer science research impact how we live, work, play, and learn. Listener discounts, meet the host, and more: csail.mit.edu/podcast
The MIT CSAIL Alliances Podcast is collaborating with MIT Sloan’s Me, Myself, and AI podcast to share a special bonus episode this month.Paul Romer once considered himself the most optimistic economist. He rightfully predicted that technology would blow up as an economic driver coming out of the inflation of the 1970s, but acknowledges he did not foresee the inequality that technology advances would lead to.On this episode of the Me, Myself, and AI podcast, Paul shares his views on AI advances and their implications for society. Rather than pave the way for full automation, he is a proponent of keeping humans in the loop and believes that technology can be pointed in a direction for more meaningful and beneficial use, citing education as an area ripe to benefit from AI.More about CSAIL Alliances and our podcasts: csail.mit.edu/podcastFor more episodes from Me, Myself, and AI: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/audio-series/me-myself-and-ai/
How AI will Change Your Job with MIT Economics Professor David Autor & The Potential of Self-Supervised Learning with CSAIL PhD Student Sharut GuptaHost: Kara MillerPart One: MIT Economics Professor David Autor says that AI is “not like a calculator where you just punch in the numbers and get the right answer. It's much harder to figure out how to be effective with it.” Offering unique insights into the future of work in an AI-powered world, Professor Autor explains his biggest worries, the greatest upside scenarios, and how he believes we should be approaching AI as a tool, and addresses how AI will impact jobs like nursing and skilled trades.Studies and papers referenced in conversation: AI and Product Innovation: https://aidantr.github.io/files/AI_innovation.p AI and the Gender Gap: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4759218 Robotics and Nursing Homes: https://www.nber.org/papers/w33116Part Two: CSAIL PhD student Sharut Gutpa describes how self-supervised learning might bring about truly adaptable models which can respond to fast-changing environments, like consumer preferences. CSAIL Alliances connects business and industry to the people and research of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Labs. Learn more about CSAIL Alliances here.Each month, the CSAIL podcast features cutting-edge MIT and CSAIL experts discussing their current research, challenges and successes, as well as the potential impact of emerging tech. Learn more and listen to past episodes.Connect with CSAIL Alliances:On our site: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-teamOn X: x.com/csail_alliancesOn LinkedIn: linkedIn.com/mit-CSAIL
Have we achieved Artificial General Intelligence? MIT CSAIL Professor Manolis Kellis argues yes. Computers can do nearly every intellectual task that humans are capable of and are rapidly tackling the physical tasks. What does this mean for the future of AI integration, regulation, and development? Hear Professor Kellis’ ideas about how businesses can incorporate LLMs (large language models) to minimize silos, why we shouldn’t put up too many guardrails on AI technology, and how human-AI collaboration can lead to broader societal benefit, including healthcare. Professor Kellis is working toward a future where AI transforms healthcare through a deeper understanding of our individual genetics and targeted treatment development.Visit Professor Kellis’s website to learn more about his work on AI and computational biology: https://www.csail.mit.edu/person/manolis-kellis
Associate Professor Marzyeh Ghassemi discusses why, despite its tremendous potential for good, AI must be approached with caution, especially in high risk areas like healthcare. Biases in training data can perpetuate real-world inequalities, providers might rely too much on potentially faulty AI, and tools created for one demographic might not necessarily translate to a different population. However, considering the incredible potential of AI to tackle challenges in transformative ways, it’s worth approaching these considerations with rigorous academic insight. Learn more about her work here: https://www.csail.mit.edu/person/marzyeh-ghassemi
This month’s podcast is a double feature. First up, Associate Professor and Chief Health AI Officer at the University of California San Diego Karandeep Singh explains the reality of using artificial intelligence for medicine. Professor Singh extrapolates on what works, what doesn’t, and how some challenges are social rather than technical.Plus, MIT CSAIL’s Assistant Professor Andreea Bobu explains how large language models are advancing the field of robotics. Thanks to LLMs, giving directions to robots might soon look more like a conversation, without the need for step-by-step commands. You can learn more about CSAIL research and access a full transcript of this podcast at https://cap.csail.mit.edu/. To learn about CSAIL's Professional Development Courses, including the upcoming Cybersecurity for Technical Leaders and Deploying AI courses, visit here: cap.csail.mit.edu/events-professional-programs. Podcast listeners save 10% on courses with code MITXPOD10.
Founding Director of the MIT Internet Policy Research Initiative CSAIL Senior Research Scientist Daniel Weitzner says a lack of visibility about how personal data is being used is leading to an erosion of customer trust. However, companies increasingly need to leverage data for analytic advantage, generative AI applications, and more. His research focuses on solutions which would empower consumers with visibility and control of their data, facilitating a future of accountability and trust. Hear more about his work here: https://www.csail.mit.edu/person/daniel-weitznerFind out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast, at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/podcasts/how-companies-can-rebuild-trust-around-data-danny-weitzner?utm_source=alliancesmembers&utm_medium=pardot&utm_campaign=dannypod24If you would like to learn more about CSAIL's Professional Development Courses, including the upcoming Driving Innovation with Generative AI, visit here: cap.csail.mit.edu/events-professional-programs. Podcast listeners save 10% on courses with code MITXPOD10.
Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management and CSAIL Andrew Lo believes AI can help everyday consumers make important financial decisions by democratizing access to quality finance advice. His research aims to address the challenges of deploying AI in finance by, for example, answering questions around responsibility and engaging with financial advisors to make sure such tools are useful in the field. Professor Lo is the faculty director for the FintechAI@CSAIL research initiative. Find out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast, at https://cap.csail.mit.edu/podcasts/how-ai-can-help-financial-decision-making-andrew-loIf you would like to learn more about CSAIL's Professional Development Courses, including the upcoming Driving Innovation with Generative AI, visit here: cap.csail.mit.edu/events-professional-programs. Podcast listeners save 10% on courses with code MITXPOD10.Looking for another great podcast? MIT Sloan Management Review’s "Me, Myself, and AI," expert hosts and researchers talk with AI leaders from organizations like NASA, Upwork, Github, and Meta to explore how organizations achieve success with generative AI — and what challenges and ethical considerations they face along the way. Listen to Me, Myself, and AI wherever you stream podcasts. https://link.chtbl.com/pxsEZ4pf?sid=CSAIL
Princeton Professor Arvind Narayanan, author of "AI Snake Oil," sheds light on the stark contrast between the public perception and actual capabilities of AI. In this podcast, he explores the significant gap between the excitement surrounding AI and its current limitations. Find out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast, at https://cap.csail.mit.edu/podcasts/current-state-ai-arvind-narayanan.If you would like to learn more about the Cybersecurity for Technical Leaders Course, visit here:https://cap.csail.mit.edu/cybersecurity-technical-leaders-online-course-mit-csail-alliancesPodcast listeners save 10% with code MITXTPOD10
Associate Professor Stefanie Mueller, who leads the Human-Computer Interaction group at CSAIL, discusses her groundbreaking research using generative AI for 3D applications. Specifically she explains how generative AI can be combined with mechanical simulation to create stable and personalized 3D models. Find out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast, at https://cap.csail.mit.edu. If you would like to learn more about the Cybersecurity for Technical Leaders Course, visit here: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/cybersecurity-technical-leaders-online-course-mit-csail-alliancesPodcast listeners save 10% with code MITXTPOD10
MIT Professor Daniel Jackson, associate director of CSAIL and the author of The Essence of Software, argues that if your design is flawed, so is your product. In this podcast, Prof. Jackson shares some cases where software design makes or breaks big companies and what can be done to improve software design in the future. Find out more here: cap.csail.mit.edu
This week on the CSAIL Alliances Podcast we’re joined by George Westerman, a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Founder of the Global Opportunity Initiative. Westerman discusses the future of AI, the opportunities it presents, as well as some potential pitfalls. Find out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast at https://cap.csail.mit.edu/
Today’s generative AI programs know how to write, compose music, and even create works of art. But it learned to do so by training on data made by human creators without asking their permission. As independent artists and giant media companies bring their cases to court, the question is: will all this fundamentally change the human-AI relationship? This week’s podcast is a special crossover episode with our friends at Click Here; find out more about them here: https://therecord.media/podcast
MIT CSAIL Professors Srini Devadas and Vinod Vaikuntanathan join the CSAIL Alliances Podcast for a conversation about cybersecurity, addressing topics from federated protocols, the importance of data-driven approaches, and how quantum computing could change the landscape. Find out more about Professor Devadas, Professor Vaikuntanathan and CSAIL Alliances here:A transcript of this podcast is also available on the CSAIL Alliances website.
On this episode of the CSAIL Alliances Podcast, hear from industry experts Andy Ellis (former Chief Security Officer at Akamai) and Amy Herzog (Chief Information Security Officer, Ads & Devices at Amazon) about what companies should be focused on in a changing security landscape. Ellis and Herzog discuss the role of AI, the future of security, and the importance of maintaining vigilance with existing protocols like email. Find a full transcript of this podcast and more information at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Director Professor Daniela Rus shares insights from her new book "The Heart and the Chip". Professor Rus discusses the past, present and future of how robots shape our lives. For more information on Professor Rus' new book, and to find a full transcript of this podcast please visit cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Hal Abelson has a long history of looking at the importance of Computer Science education and helping shape its future. Listen as he joins Kara Miller in conversation to discuss how AI will shape education moving forward. CORRECTION: Please note, the website in the outro of the podcast should be cap.csail.mit.edu.A full transcript of this podcast will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL's Dr. Neil Thompson joins Kara Miller for a conversation on how AI will affect the future of business. Dr. Thompson also shares insights into the race for computing power and how that competition is shaping the landscape of industry. Find more about Dr. Neil Thompson and his research, as well as a transcript of this podcast at http://cap.csail.mit.edu/podcasts/ais-impact-future-work-neil-thompson.
MIT Professor Thomas Malone sits down with Kara Miller for a discussion about the intersections of business and computer science. Find a full transcript of this podcast and more at cap.csail.mit.edu
MIT Professor Charles E. Leiserson discusses business, education, optimization and the end of Moore's Law with Kara Miller. Find a full transcript of this podcast at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor and Turing Award winner Mike Stonebraker sits down with Kara Miller for a conversation about research and business. They're joined by Gant Redmon, CEO of Hopara, an Agile Digital Twin company that was built at MIT CSAIL. A full transcript of this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Yoon Kim joins Kara Miller for a conversation about the past, present and future of Large Language Models. A full transcript of this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Saman Amarasinghe discusses how Large Language Models like Chat GPT, will alter the future of programming. Professor Amarasinghe also examines how structured data fits into the equation.
A transcript of this podcast can be found here:
cap.csail.mit.edu
Vivienne Sze is an associate professor in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She's a coauthor of Efficient Processing of Deep Neural Networks.
A full transcript will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Armando Solar-Lezama shares his insights on Program Synthesis. A full transcript of this podcast is available at cap.csail.mit.edu
Hear from CSAIL Professor Christina Delimitrou as she outlines advances being made in the cloud computing space. A full transcript of this podcast will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Henry Corrigan-Gibbs shares insights into his research that builds computer systems using ideas from cryptography, computer security, and computer systems.A transcript of this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Sam Hopkins gives an overview of the landscape of high dimensional statistics, and shares some of the research that he and his colleagues at CSAIL are working on to shape it. Professor Hopkins would like to note one correction, when he refers to the "planted clique" problem, it should be "max clique in a random graph". A full transcript of this podcast is available at cap.csail.mit.edu
Professor Mengjia Yan shares insights into her cybersecurity research.A full transcript of this podcast will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
Cambridge based visual artist and MIT alumni Karl Sims shares his insights on art, science and business.
CSAIL Professor Arvind details his work in near-storage computing. He explains how he's using flash storage instead of massive amounts of DRAM for big data problems.
A transcript of this podcast will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
MIT Professors Peter Shor and Will Oliver join for a conversation on the current state and future possibilities of quantum computing.
A transcription for this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Neil Thompson explains how the end of Moore's Law will affect the computing stack, and what industry leaders should consider when facing this problem.
Accessible captions can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Gerald Jay Sussman discusses the importance of a breadth of research, lessons academia and industry can learn from each other, and how to be a flexible programmer.
Accessible captions can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor John Guttag discusses the process of incorporating AI into healthcare. Guttag also talks about the process of bringing an idea out of the lab and into a full-fledged business.
CSAIL Professor Una-May O'Reilly discusses her work at the ALFA Group at MIT CSAIL and gives insights into the differences between Deep Learning and Deep Understanding.
CSAIL Professor David Karger discusses two of his research areas with CSAIL Alliances. He reviews his team's work on no-code and low-code authoring to help people create custom solutions to unique problems. Next, he discusses tools he's created to improve online discussions.
A transcript of this podcast can be found here:
https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/resource-pdfs/David%20Karger%20Podcast%20Export%201.pdf
CSAIL's David Clark discusses the differences between misinformation and disinformation, and why the latter is a more serious threat. He also examines possible solutions to the disinformation problem.
You can find a transcript for this podcast here:
https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/resource-pdfs/David%20Clark%20Podcast%202022.pdf
CSAIL Professor Adam Chlipala is working to change some of the fundamental ways we use cryptography. His latest project, Fiat Cryptography, utilizes formal methods to create complex cryptographic code to guarantee correctness. Fiat Cryptography stands to significantly change the efficiency and security of the web.
A transcript for this episode can be found here: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/resource-pdfs/Adam%20Chlipala%20Podcast%20Export%201.pdf
CSAIL Principal Research Scientist Ruth Rosenholtz discusses the rise of video conferencing throughout the pandemic. Rosenholtz shares fascinating insights from her vision science research that could help reshape how video conferencing platforms are used.
Please find a link to this podcast's transcript here: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/resource-pdfs/Ruth%20Rosenholtz%20CSAIL%20Alliances%20Podcast%203.pdf
Professor Justin Solomon discusses the many applications of processing geometric data including medical vision, 3D animation and autonomous vehicles. Please find a transcript for this podcast here:
https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/resource-pdfs/Justin%20Solomon%20Podcast%20Export%201%281%29.pdf
Professor Manolis Kellis of MIT CSAIL and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard discusses the effects COVID-19 has had on his computational biology research. Kellis believes that by being aware of genetic predispositions we can better prepare to confront each person’s unique challenges.
Access the transcript for this podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2021-10/Manolis%20Kellis%20CAP%20Podcast%20Export%203.pdf
CSAIL's Tim Kraska is developing new autoML approaches to make analytics more accessible to a broader range of users and optimize database architecture systems for companies.
Access the transcript for the podcast at: http://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2021-08/Tim%20Kraska%20podcast.pdf.
MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Professor and Cambridge Mobile Telematics founder Sam Madden discusses how far technology can be pushed into other application domains. His research explores reinforcement learning and repurposing shelf machine learning components to advance systems and solve current challenges.
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2021-07/Sam%20Madden%20Podcast_0.pdf.
Professor Daniel Jackson of MIT CSAIL is working on a number of projects to make software more usable, reliable, and secure. By rethinking the fundamentals of software design, he says that developers can ultimately give more flexibility to users in the structure and organization of software, as well as meet more user needs.
Learn more about Professor Jackson at: https://bit.ly/3paRcsm
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Daniel%20Jackson%20Podcast.pdf
Professor Jacob Andreas of MIT CSAIL is trying to close the gap between current machine learning techniques and human abilities to learn language and learn from language about the rest of the world.
Learn more about Prof. Andreas at: https://bit.ly/3vECQ5o.
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Edit%20II%20.pdf.
As one of the founding directors of the Free Software Foundation, CSAIL's Prof. Hal Abelson believes that free software empowers everyone to maintain the freedom to run, edit, contribute to, and share software, as well as see everything the software is doing.
Learn more about Prof. Abelson at: https://bit.ly/3fPIEEq.
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/ResearcherSpotlight_HalAbelson_02_24_2021.pdf
Cryptography, the study of finding secure methods of communication, may seem to many of us as, well, cryptic. But in spite of its more theoretical and foundational nature in computing, cryptography is more important now than ever in securing private communication and other types of information that are no longer stored on our own private machines. Professor Yael Kalai of MIT CSAIL and Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research New England is a cryptographer and theoretical computer scientist working on state-of-the-art ways of securing computation.
Learn more about Prof. Kalai's at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/engage/spotlights/yael-kalai?utm_source=souncloud&utm_medium=social%20media&utm_campaign=yael_kalai_spotlight
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Video%20Edit%20II%20.pdf
Our new reality is increasingly one of virtuality. D. Fox Harrell, Ph.D., studies the relationship between computing and imagination for emerging forms of digital media, as well as their social and ethical impact. From videogames that better support diverse user groups to a personalized Universal Hip Hop Museum experience, his work falls into both the design and analysis of virtual technologies. Prof. Harrell and his research group in MIT CSAIL build analytical tools using AI identifying trends and biases and developing new design principles we can apply to our work in industry and academia.
Learn more about Prof. Harrell's virtuality research at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/engage/spotlights/d-fox-harrell-0?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=social%20media&utm_campaign=d_fox_harrell_spotlight
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Fox%20Harrell%20Spotlight%20transcript.pdf
If we want robots to assist us with everyday tasks, they’ll need to be able to manipulate objects on a human level. To do that, they need good fingers. Professor Ted Adelson of MIT CSAIL is developing robotic fingers that are sensitive and soft like human fingers, enabling robots to use their hands intelligently to accomplish chosen tasks. Read more about Ted Adelson at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/engage/spotlights/ted-adelson?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=social%20media&utm_campaign=spotlight_ted_adelson
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/CSAIL%20Alliances%20Researcher%20Spotlight-%20Ted%20Adleson.pdf
“If we want to keep the Moore’s Law momentum going in computing, we have to do something different,” says CSAIL Professor Saman Amarasinghe, whose work with compilers is making them faster, more reliable, and more efficient. He discusses using new technologies like machine learning and modern algorithms and solvers to optimize code and get the performance needed to keep up with the rapid changes happening in industry. For more information, visit: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/engage/spotlights/saman-amarasinghe?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=social%20media&utm_campaign=saman_amarasinghe_spotlight
Access the transcript for the podcast at: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Moore%27s%20Law%20Momentum%20with%20CSAIL%27s%20Saman%20Amarasinghe%20Transcript%20.pdf
MIT CSAIL Professor Manolis Kellis discusses how the symbiotic relationship between computer science and biology helps us to better understand the complex programming language that is our DNA. Through DNA, we can find the molecular basis of the pathophysiology of a disease and take a more holistic approach to disease treatment, and one day may even predict disease. He explains the impact of human genome and epigenome research on the pharmaceutical industry in developing medicine that is both precise and personalized, dramatically transforming the therapeutic landscape.
Manolis Kellis Principal Investigator, MIT CSAIL, Professor of Computer Science, Computational Biology Group leader
https://cap.csail.mit.edu/podcasts/understanding-science-disease-through-human-genome-research
Download the podcast transcript: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/sites/default/files/research-pdfs/Podcast_ManolisKellis_04_29_2020.mp3_.pdf
Aleksander Madry, Associate Professor at CSAIL, tackles key algorithmic challenges in today’s computing as part of his work in the Theory of Computation Group at CSAIL. His work is described as re-thinking machine learning from the perspective of security and robustness. Madry discusses the evolution of the human and machine interaction and provides insight on adoption of M/L systems over the next few years.
Are we even sure what the internet is today? One of the original architects of the internet, David Clark, Senior Research Scientist at CSAIL, talks about shaping the future of the internet, the potential challenges and what it could become.
Julie Shah discusses the challenges and successes of designing and employing intelligent design teammates that aim to enhance human productivity in descion-making and physical tasks through using reverse engineering methods and computational models. She shares how research is exposing robots to building skills that allow them to infer and anticipate their human counterpart's next move and motives within a given situation and the flexibility to adapt and adjust outside of predetermined plans.
Andrew Lo, Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management, and Director of MIT Laboratory for Financial Engineering, shares insight into the collaborative research efforts of MIT CSAIL and MIT Sloan School of Management within the three distinct areas of crytopgraphy, machine learning and AI, as well as discusses the progress of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. He also offers a glimpse into the future of banking and finance and reveals the emerging technology of secured multi-party computation.
MIT CSAIL's Howard Shrobe, Director of the Cybersecurity@CSAIL initiative, discusses what led him to become involved in the industry of Cybersecurity, his experience with DARPA, and creating the cybersecurity programs of CRASH and MRC. Additionally, he shares insights as to the biggest challenges in cybersecurity today and how these challenges effect the development of the Internet of Things.
MIT CSAIL professor Srini Devadas describes computer architecture, computer security and their intersection. He gives further insight into the conflict between ease of programming and performance and the communication between these threads through parallel software, such as message passing or shared memory abstraction (e.g. Google Docs).
While the promise of the Internet of Things (IoT) brings many new business prospects, it also presents significant challenges ranging from technology architectural choices to security concerns. The concept of Internet of Things (IoT), which has roots at MIT, has begun to make an impact in industries ranging from industrial systems to healthcare. MIT researchers continue to conduct ground-breaking research on topics ranging from RFID to cloud technologies, from sensors to the World Wide Web. Learn cutting-edge tools and applications for this new evolution in hardware, software, and data from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory's IoT experts: http://bit.ly/1S4sIdp
A researcher at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, Michael Stonebraker has founded and led nine different big-data spin-offs, including VoltDB, Tamr and Vertica - the latter of which was bought by Hewlett Packard for $340 million.
Now he’s bringing his insights to a new online course being offered this month through edX and MIT Professional Education. Co-taught by long-time business partner Andy Palmer, “Startup Success: How to Launch a Technology Company in 6 Steps” covers topics ranging from generating ideas and recruiting top talent to pitching VCs and negotiating deals - all in the span of three weeks.
The Data Science Machine is an end-to-end software system that is able to automatically develop predictive models from relational data. The Machine was created by Max Kanter and Kalyan Verramachaneni at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT.