Episode 1: Bringing Big Screen Magic to a Startup

From animated shorts to feature films, computer graphics has advanced the movie industry by leaps and bounds. As visual effects have become more integrated into movies and games, capturing a performer’s face became a priority. SCS alumnus Kiran Bhat has been tackling this since his Ph.D. work at Carnegie Mellon University. Many years and one Academy Award later, he’s leading a team of researchers at Roblox who’re applying deep learning to create real-time avatars.

Episode 2: How Do I Build Glasses to See Inside the Body?

Recent advances in compute power and machine learning have transformed the way we explore the sciences. Oana Carja, an assistant professor of computational biology in Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science, is applying these tools to novel datasets to learn about evolutionary biology. If leveraged correctly, these tools could solve big problems inside the human genome.

Episode 3: There’s No Age That’s Too Old To Play

Playing games creates connections and spurs imagination. Games can also be transformational, providing learning opportunities and experiences that cultivate empathy. Jessica Hammer, the director for the Center for Transformational Play at Carnegie Mellon University, explains how play can open doors for all people, regardless of age.

Episode 4: A Wide Open Question In the Music-AI Conversation

Improving access to technologies people can use to create music is the motivation for Assistant Professor Chris Donahue, of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science. As a lifelong musician, he’s merging music, creativity and artificial intelligence to create more opportunities for musical expression, and foster systems that put artists first.

Episode 5: 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 what technology looks like in our lives when we think beyond the screen.

Episode 6: 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, ethics and efficiency.

Episode 7: You Cant 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.

Episode 8: 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 means in the digital age.

Episode 9: 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 safely and effectively bringing AI into the workplace.

Episode 10: 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 courses for first-year students in the School of Computer Science. He ensures students walk away with the reasoning and communication skills needed to advance, and some special memories, too.