About AI in Real Life: Real Talk with Real Experts
AI in Real Life: Real Talk by Real Experts is a student-run podcast started by the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM) at Carnegie Mellon University. It features undergraduate and high school students interviewing AI experts and asking questions from the public perspective.
Publisher
AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM)
AI IRL: Real Talk with Real Experts Welcome back to AI In Real Life, the podcast from the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making! In this solo episode, host Ariel Huang digs into one of the biggest structural stories in entertainment right now and what it reveals about AI, creative industries, and who gets to make decisions in an age of rapidly shifting information. Two horror films-Backrooms and Obsession-opened on the same weekend in May. The first cost $10 million. The second cost $750,...
20 Jun 2026
Episode 13: Applied Data Science in the Age of AI
AI IRL: Real Talk with Real Experts Welcome back to AI In Real Life, the podcast from the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making! In this episode, host Ariel Huang sits down with Jamie McGovern, Program Director of Carnegie Mellon University's Master of Applied Data Science (MADS) program. With a background spanning consulting, data science, and higher education, Jamie has spent years helping organizations make better decisions through data while preparing the next generation of data scie...
28 Mar 2026
Episode 12: A 21st Century Erdos Problem
Welcome back to AI In Real Life, the podcast from the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making! In our first ever solo episode, host Ariel explores a question that sits at the heart of many conversations about generative AI: what does it mean to be find and what does it mean to create? Beginning with the viral claim that AI had “solved” an Erdős problem as a starting point, this episode discusses the distinction between discovering something new and retrieving something forgotten. What initi...
17 Feb 2026
Episode 11: ChatGPT in the Classroom
Welcome back to AI In Real Life, the podcast from the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making! In this episode, host Ariel talks with Professor Kun Zhang, professor in the CMU philosophy department and an affiliate faculty member in the machine learning department. His research interests lie in causality, and he develops methods for automated causal discovery, investigates learning problems, and studies philosophical foundations of machine learning. They dive into the fascinating intersec...
8 Sept 2025
Episode 10: Creative AI and the Ethics of Art
Welcome back to AI In Real Life, the podcast from the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making! In this episode, host Katy talks with Professor Eunsu Kang, a visiting professor and instructor of Art and Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University. Eunsu is also a renowned media artist whose interactive installations and AI-generated artworks have been exhibited worldwide. They dive into the fascinating world of AI and creativity, discussing: What is Creative AI?: Eunsu explains how AI ...
12 Aug 2025
Episode 9: AI, Startups, and the Future of Work
Welcome back to AI In Real Life, the podcast from the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making! In this episode, host Katy talks with Sean Ammirati, a Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, a partner at Birchmere Ventures, and CEO of Growth Signals. They dive into the dynamic world of AI and entrepreneurship, discussing: Growth Signals: Learn about Sean's new platform that uses AI to help people build innovative products and servi...
12 Mar 2025
Episode 8: Rationality vs. Reality: Human Decisions & AI's Role
AI IRL: Real Talk with Real Experts Interview with Ido Erev, Professor of Behavioral Science and “Women’s Division—ATS Academic Chair” at the Faculty of Data and Decision Science at the Technion--Israel Institute of Technology Welcome back to AI In Real Life! This episode dives deep into the complexities of human decision-making and how it deviates from traditional rational models. Join host Katy, live from the AI-SDM workshop at Carnegie Mellon University, as she speaks with Professor Ido ...
11 Feb 2025
AI IRL - Episode 7: AI and Robotics for Disaster Response
AI IRL: Real Talk with Real Experts Interview with: Robin Murphy, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M,Terri Adams, Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Howard UniversityAI and Robotics for Disaster Response Welcome back to AI In Real Life! This episode takes you to the front lines of disaster response, exploring the critical role AI and robotics play in helping communities prepare for and recover from crises. Join host Katy as she speaks with Dr. Robin Murph...
15 Jan 2025
Episode 6: The Power of Cognitive Modeling in Human-AI Teaming
Professor Michael Lee explores the power of cognitive modeling in human-AI teaming with host Katy, revealing key insights for optimizing partnerships and driving innovation.
2 Dec 2024
Episode 5: Human-AI Teaming for Decision Making - A Powerful Partnership
AI IRL: Human-AI Teaming for Decision Making - A Powerful Partnership
Interview with Nancy Cooke, Professor of Human Systems Engineering at The Polytechnic School at Arizona State University
Welcome back to AI In Real Life! This episode, recorded live and on-site at the inaugural AI-SDM workshop on Human-AI Teaming for Decision Making, dives into the future of collaborative intelligence.
Join Katy, our host, as she chats with Dr. Nancy Cooke, a leading expert in Human Systems Engineering, about how AI is transforming the way we make decisions.
Get ready to explore:
What human-robot teaming and hybrid human-AI systems mean in practice. Dr. Cooke dives into real-world examples to demystify these concepts.
The delicate balance between AI assistance and human critical thinking. Discover how AI can empower human analysts in complex fields like cyber and intelligence analysis while avoiding overstepping their role.
The power of AI for team cognition. Learn how AI contributes to shared situational awareness and adaptability, fostering a dynamic and cohesive human-AI team.
The societal challenges for human-AI collaboration. Dr. Cooke sheds light on the roadblocks to successful implementation and how to design hybrid systems for maximum impact.
The surprising future of human-AI teaming. Explore unexpected domains where AI could emerge as a critical partner and how we can adapt AI design to cross-disciplinary applications.
Don't miss Dr. Cooke's insights on potential overhyped areas of AI and the key barriers to successful implementation.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of AI and its potential to revolutionize decision-making.
Get involved! Submit your questions for future episodes through our website: https://www.cmu.edu/ai-sdm/podcast/form-submission/index.html
23 Sept 2024
Episode 4: Demystifying the Hype and Empowering Collaboration
AI in Real Life: Demystifying the Hype and Empowering Collaboration with Rebecca NugentWelcome back to AI In Real Life! This episode, we dive into the crucial topic of AI education and outreach with Professor Rebecca Nugent, a leading figure in making AI accessible and understandable.Professor Nugent's diverse background in industry, non-profits, and academia grants her a unique perspective on AI's societal impact. We explore how her experiences inform her role as the Education & Outreach...
20 May 2024
Episode 3: Human and AI Decision-Making
AI in Real Life: The Art of Making Choices on the Fly with Coty Gonzalez
Ever wonder how humans make decisions in real-time, under pressure? This episode dives into the fascinating world of dynamic decision-making with Professor Coty Gonzalez!
Professor Gonzalez is a leading expert in dynamic decision-making. Her research at Carnegie Mellon University focuses on how humans make choices in complex, real-time environments. She's not just interested in the "what" of decision-making, but also the "how." Professor Gonzalez uses a combination of behavioral experiments and computational modeling to understand the cognitive processes behind those split-second choices.
Join host Katy as they explore:
The science behind dynamic decision-making: What makes it different from your typical "pro-and-con" list?
The intersection of AI and societal decision-making: How is AI being used to improve the choices we make every day? (Bonus! We unpack the difference between AI and Machine Learning)
AI-SDM's cutting-edge projects: Discover how Professor Gonzalez's research is enhancing the way we make decisions as a society.
The future of AI and human judgment: Will AI replace us entirely? We explore the unique role of AI in assisting, not supplanting, human decision-making.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the psychology of decision-making and the exciting potential of AI!
Get involved! Submit your questions for future episodes through our website: https://www.cmu.edu/ai-sdm/podcast/form-submission/index.html (https://www.cmu.edu/ai-sdm/podcast/form-submission/index.html)
22 Apr 2024
Episode 2: AI for Social Good
AI in Real Life: Can AI Help Us Achieve Better Public Health?
In this episode of AI in Real Life: Real Talk with Real Experts, we explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and public health with a leading expert, Professor Milind Tambe.
Professor Tambe is a renowned figure at the forefront of AI for social good. He holds prestigious positions at Harvard University and Google Research, and his work focuses on harnessing the power of AI to tackle critical societal challenges.
This episode explores:
Current public health issues and how AI is being used to address them.
Key factors for maximizing the positive impact of AI in public health.
Professor Tambe's specific research focus within AI and public health at the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM).
The ethical and cultural considerations when deploying AI solutions in public health.
The broader future of AI's impact on the medical field.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how AI is shaping the future of public health for social good.
How AI is shaping the future of public health.
The ethical considerations of AI in healthcare.
Professor Tambe's groundbreaking work at AI-SDM.
Get involved! Submit your questions for future episodes through our website: https://www.cmu.edu/ai-sdm/podcast/form-submission/index.html (https://www.cmu.edu/ai-sdm/podcast/form-submission/index.html)
30 Mar 2024
Episode 1: AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM)
AI in Real Life: Can We Teach Computers to Make Moral Choices?
In the first episode of AI in Real Life: Real Talk with Real Experts, we dive into the critical question of AI's role in societal decision-making.
Our host, Katy, chats with Professor Aarti Singh, Director of the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM) at Carnegie Mellon University. Professor Singh sheds light on the challenges and opportunities of harnessing AI for the greater good.
This episode explores:
What is Societal Decision-Making and how does AI impact it?
The inspiration behind AI-SDM and its mission.
Specific societal challenges AI-SDM is tackling.
Building trust in AI-driven decisions and ensuring ethical implementation.
The future of AI in societal applications and AI-SDM's role.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the ethical implications and societal impact of Artificial Intelligence.
Get involved! Submit your questions for future episodes through our website: https://www.cmu.edu/ai-sdm/podcast/form-submission/index.html (https://www.cmu.edu/ai-sdm/podcast/form-submission/index.html)
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
4,868
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
21
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
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