Hello, Computer - Interviews with A.I. experts

​Dr Megan Maas is an assistant professor in Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University. Her research investigates adolescent and emerging adult sexual and romantic experiences, and how parents, schools, and media can impact those experiences for better and for worse. For over 13 years, Dr Maas has served as a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and expert contributor on issues revolving around adolescent sexuality, the sexualization of girls, pornography use, and parent-child communication about sexuality at universities and organizations across the country. Dr. Maas has provided consulting on several media literacy programs, parenting programs, documentary series, sexuality education programs, and sexual misconduct policy development. She has also served as an expert witness on a revenge pornography case.

Alexander is assistant professor of Neuroscience and Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. His research uses computational methods to model how the brain processes language and represents meaning. Alexander is also interested in fMRI technology and data visualization. In 2016, he authored a paper that explored the relationship between language meaning and brain activity. Through his research, Alex demonstrated that models based on the semantic properties of words can effectively predict functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses to naturally spoken narrative stories. Additionally, he conducted a thorough analysis of these models to determine the specific semantic properties represented in various brain areas, resulting in detailed maps of semantic representation across the human cortex. Alex discovered that these maps exhibit remarkable consistency across different individuals. To further enhance his findings, he developed a generative model of cortical maps to create a group atlas from the collected data, and created a web-based 3D viewer to facilitate the exploration of this dataset. He completed his Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley, working in Dr. Jack Gallant's laboratory within the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. Prior to this, he pursued both a bachelor's and master's degree in computation and neural systems (CNS) at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Dr. Walid Saad is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of electrical and computer engineering. He earned his Ph.D. degree from the University of Oslo in 2010 and currently holds the position of full Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. Dr. Saad is the leader of the Network sciEnce, Wireless, and Security (NEWS@VT) laboratory, which is part of the esteemed Wireless@VT research group. He also serves as the Wireless NextG Faculty Lead for Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus, demonstrating his commitment to advancing wireless technologies. His research interests encompass wireless networks (5G/6G/beyond), machine learning, game theory, security, UAVs, semantic communications, cyber-physical systems, and network science. Dr. Saad's contributions have been recognized through his election as a Fellow of the IEEE. Throughout his career, Dr. Saad has received several notable awards, including the NSF CAREER award in 2013, the AFOSR summer faculty fellowship in 2014, and the Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in 2015. He has also co-authored eleven conference best paper awards at prominent conferences such as IEEE WiOpt, ICIMP, IEEE WCNC, IEEE PIMRC, IEEE SmartGridComm, EuCNC, IEEE GLOBECOM, IFIP NTMS, and IEEE ICC. The IEEE Communications Society has honored Dr. Saad with prestigious awards, including the Fred W. Ellersick Prize in 2015 and 2022, the IEEE ComSoc Best Young Professional in Academia award in 2017, the IEEE ComSoc Radio Communications Committee Early Achievement Award in 2018, and the IEEE ComSoc Communication Theory Technical Committee Early Achievement Award in 2019. He has also contributed as a co-author to the 2019 IEEE Communications Society Young Author Best Paper and the 2021 IEEE Communications Society Young Author Best Paper. Dr. Saad actively contributes to the academic community through his editorial roles. He serves as an Area Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering and the IEEE Transactions on Communications. Additionally, he is the Editor-in-Chief for the IEEE Transactions on Machine Learning in Communications and Networking.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alon Loeffler is a Synthetic Biological Intelligence scientist at Cortical Labs in Australia. Loeffler has a PhD in Neuromorphics from the University of Sydney, and more than three years experience designing AI learning tasks and algorithms for brain-inspired systems. His main research focus is on the interplay between structure and function in neuro-memristive nanowire networks. He also has degrees in psychology and philosophy, as well as a First-Class honours in neuroscience. Loeffler's interests lie at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, nanotechnology and philosophy; in areas such as brain-computer interface, neuroengineering and neuromorphics.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Jonas Ivarsson is a professor of informatics. He started in cognitive science and communication studies before moving to education. In 2013 he became a professor of education, where his research focused on the role of various technologies in developing knowledge and competence. In 2019 he moved to Informatics at the Department of Applied Information Technology at the University of Gothenburg. There, his role is to take the lead on the emerging research on Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence—a specific approach to the interplay between humans and machines in the context of artificial intelligence. Central to this approach are questions relating to how to design AI systems to operate in the context of human users and how to design learning trajectories of humans so that they can intelligently interact with increasingly complex semi-autonomous systems. His strategic leadership background includes serving as deputy head of department as well as research dean at the faculty of education. He has served at the board of the University of Gothenburg and as a member of the university’s coordination group for digitalisation and artificial intelligence. The government has appointed Ivarsson to serve on the advisory Ethics Council of the Swedish Migration Agency. Ivarsson is an experienced project leader and currently operates as principal investigator of the research project ’Professional Trust and Autonomous Systems’ funded by Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Dr. Eman El-Sheikh is Associate Vice President at the University of West Florida. She leads the Center for Cybersecurity and is also a Professor of Computer Science at UWF. Eman has extensive expertise in cybersecurity education, research, and workforce development. She received several awards related to cybersecurity education and diversity and was recognized among the 2020 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity by Security Magazine. Dr. El-Sheikh leads several national and regional initiatives, including the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program and the Southeast Regional Hub for the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. Eman received numerous grants to enhance cybersecurity education, workforce development, and capacity building. She launched the Cybersecurity for All® Program to enhance competencies and hands-on skills for evolving cybersecurity work roles. The program was recognized among the 2020 Innovations in Cybersecurity Education. Dr. El-Sheikh teaches and conducts research related to the development and evaluation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for cybersecurity. She has published several books, including most recently, Computer and Network Security Essentials by Springer Publishing, over 75 peer-reviewed articles and given over 100 invited talks and presentations. Eman also co-founded the Florida Women in Cybersecurity Affiliate. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Michigan State University.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sylvain Rochon is a speaker, author, futurist and entrepreneur who specialises in educating professionals, decision makers, and politicians on how to use artificial intelligence to improve society. His talks are designed to guide audiences through the exponential technological advancements that will shape the future, including artificial intelligence (AI), nanotechnology, 3D printing, gene editing, distributed ledgers, and widespread automation.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠. Seth Shostak directs the search for extraterrestrials at the SETI Institute in California—trying to find evidence of intelligent life in space. He is also committed to getting the public, especially young people, excited about astrobiology and science in general. Seth is the host of “Big Picture Science,” the SETI Institute’s weekly radio show. The one-hour program uses interviews with leading researchers and lively and intelligent storytelling to tackle such big questions as: What came before the big bang? How does memory work? Will our descendants be human or machine? What’s the origin of humor? Big Picture Science can be found in iTunes and other podcast sites.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. David Tuffley is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics and CyberSecurity at Griffith University's School of ICT in Brisbane/Gold Coast. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠. David is a high-profile Griffith academic who appears regularly on local, national and international media (newspaper, radio and TV) "techsplaining" the social impact of technology. Since 2005, his global audience reach will be in excess of a hundred million. David's articles published in The Conversation and republished in newspapers like the Washington Post and Chicago Tribune have reached over 2 million readers. His work has been translated into German, Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese. Among several other high-profile events, David was a guest panelist in the 2017 World Science Festival, and guest speaker at the 2019 Festival. David spends a month each year since 2016 at Humboldt University in Berlin, the high technology capital of eastern Europe, and San Jose/San Francisco where he studies innovation culture. David's formal qualifications include a PhD (Software Engineering), M Phil (Information Systems), Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (Griffith University), Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, English Literature, Anthropology) (Queensland).. David is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. David writes on a broad range of topics; from Comparative Religion, Anthropology, Psychology, Ancient and Modern History, Linguistics, Rhetoric, Philosophy, Architectural History, Environments and Ecosystems. With over 60 titles in print and eBook and millions of verified downloads, David is a non-fiction author of international significance. Beyond the English-speaking world, his work has been translated into Chinese, German and Japanese.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. Sabine Hossenfelder is a German theoretical physicist, science communicator, author, musician, and YouTuber. She is the author of Lost in Math: How beauty leads physics astray, which explores the concept of elegance in fundamental physics and cosmology, and of Existential Physics: A scientist’s guide to life’s biggest questions. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠. Sabine has published more than 80 research papers in the foundations of physics, from cosmology to quantum foundations and particle physics. Her writing has appeared in Scientific American, Nautilus, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Sabine also works as a freelance popular science writer and runs the YouTube channel Science Without the Gobbledygook, where she talks about recent scientific developments and debunks hype, and a separate YouTube channel for music she writes and records.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. Dr. Ahmed Elgammal is a professor at the Department of Computer Science at Rutgers University. He is the founder and director of the Art and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Rutgers, which focuses on data science in the domain of digital humanities. He is also an Executive Council Faculty at the Center for Cognitive Science at Rutgers University. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠. Prof. Elgammal published over 180 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and books in the fields of computer vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. His research on knowledge discovery in art history and AI art generation, received wide international media attention, including reports on the Washington Post, New York Times, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, CBS, NBC News, Science News, New Scientist, and many others. In 2017, an Artsy editorial acclaimed his work on AI generated art as “the biggest artistic achievement of the year”. In 2016, a TV segment about his research, produced for PBS, has won an Emmy award. His art has been shown in several technology and art venues in Los Angeles, Frankfurt, San Francisco, and New York City. Dr Elgammal received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2006. Dr. Elgammal received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2000 and 2002, respectively.

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. Dr Sam Illingworth is a force to be reckoned with in the world of science communication. As an Associate Professor, he has dedicated his career to finding innovative ways to share scientific knowledge and engage audiences of all ages. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠⁠. With a background in atmospheric physics, Dr Illingworth has a deep understanding of the complexities of science, and he uses this expertise to develop creative and engaging ways to communicate scientific concepts. From poetry to podcasts, he has explored a wide range of mediums to help make science accessible to everyone. Dr Illingworth is also an active researcher, focusing on topics such as science communication, interdisciplinary studies, and higher education. He has published numerous papers and articles on these subjects and is a sought-after speaker at conferences and events around the world. You can find out more about his work and research via his website: samillingworth.com

This is Hello, Computer, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. Our first interview is with Marisa Tschopp, a researcher at scip AG who also serves as Chief Research Officer at Women in AI NPO. Additionally, she Co-Chairs the IEEE Trust and Agency in AI Systems committee. Marisa's research explores AI from a psychological perspective, focusing on ethical implications. You can watch a video of this interview on the ⁠Hello, Computer YouTube channel⁠. Marisa investigates various questions about psychological phenomena, particularly trust, agency, leadership, performance measurement of conversational AI (A-IQ), and gender equality in AI. With a background in organisational psychology, Marisa has a keen interest in digital teaching and learning trends and has worked in social and educational settings. She has taught and studied at various universities in Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. Marisa is a prolific writer and has published numerous media articles, book chapters, and essays. She is also a frequent speaker at conferences and events worldwide, including TEDx. Marisa holds a Master's degree in Psychology of Excellence in Business and Education from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, and a BA degree in Business Psychology focusing on market and consumer psychology. She is an associate researcher (Ph.D. student) in the Social Processes Lab at the Leibniz Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM), where she investigates the perceived relationships between humans and machines.

This is the Hello, Computer Podcast, a series of interviews carried out in 2023 at a time when artificial intelligence appears to be going everywhere, all at once. AI and large language models, in particular, will change everything…at least, that’s how it appears in Spring 2023. But there’s a lot of hype and misinformation, so we’re talking to people who can weigh in on this topic with nuance and detail. Subscribe to the podcast here, or visit the YouTube channel at hellocomputer.tv and we’ll share these interviews with you so you can get a proper handle on what is happening and how the world can adapt to an AI-powered future.