Curious Conversations is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Virginia Tech Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Travis Williams, university researchers share their expertise and motivations, as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures.
S4 E8: How do we ensure authentic learning in the age of AI?
Sally Hamouda joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about how artificial intelligence (AI) appears in many K-12 classrooms and how students, educators, and parents can use it without letting it replace learning. She shared age-appropriate AI skills, assignment strategies that preserve critical thinking and unplugged activities that balance screentime and traditional learning. 0:00 How do we help students become authentic learners in the age of AI?0:50 Who is Sally Hamouda, and why talk to her?1:24 What does AI in the K-12 classroom actually look like?3:26 What AI skills do students need at each age?6:36 How can teachers keep AI from becoming a digital cheat sheet?9:22 How do teachers balance AI with traditional teaching?12:09 Does understanding AI make students better users of it?12:57 Can AI help level the playing field for students?14:17 What should parents pay attention to with AI?17:12 What has Sally's own kids' view of AI surprised her with?18:35 What gives Sally hope about AI in education?Hamouda is a collegiate professor and department outreach lead in the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech. Her work spans computer science education, educational technology, artificial intelligence literacy, learning analytics, data visualization, and K-12 computing education. She led the creation of CodeKids, which offers a wide range of engaging coding activities for students of all levels, and is spearheading the “AI in a box” program, which aims to send educators resources for unplugged activities that teach about AI.
26 Oct 2026
S4 E7: Which critical AI questions are we often overlooking?
Rishi Jaitly joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), its origins, current state, and future implications. He shared the questions he believes more people should be asking about AI, as well as insights into the role of human institutions and the skills people will need in the future. Chapters0:00 What is artificial intelligence, really?1:13 What is AI, and what science is behind it?3:39 How do humans and institutions need to evolve?6:11 What skills set people apart in AI conversations?6:53 Why are the humanities a superpower in the AI age?7:57 What do we mean by "the humanities"?9:20 How should institutions evolve and lead by example?11:24 Why should institutions be the change, not just preach it?12:09 Which skills will matter in the age of AI?13:16 What is a "full stack human" with elevated AI judgment?15:10 Why do curiosity and friction matter for learning?17:21 What will AI never do as well as humans?19:13 Where do big ideas come from in incoherent thinking?20:48 What can we learn from loss?21:49 What is the purpose of education and human formation?22:45 How can we use AI with self-awareness?24:50 How is AI used today for learning and productivity?26:05 What are agentic AI systems?27:46 Can we hold awe for both AI and human uniqueness?29:10 Where do we go from here?Jaitly is a professor of practice and Distinguished Humanities Fellow at Virginia Tech. He founded the Institute for Leadership in Technology at Virginia Tech, which offers the nation’s first executive leadership credential in the Humanities and is also co-chair of Virginia Tech’s AI Futures Working Group. Until recently, Jaitly also served as a senior advisor to OpenAI.
19 Oct 2026
S4 E6: How will data centers, microgrids, and renewable energy impact the power grid?
Ali Mehrizi-Sani joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of the power grid, its vulnerabilities, and how renewable energy and microgrids fit into the future of energy reliability. 00:00 — What’s the biggest threat to our power grid?01:22 — What does the power grid include?02:42 — How is North America’s power grid connected?05:04 — What causes blackouts, and how is the grid kept reliable?06:51 — Why is the power grid under more pressure today?09:33 — How do data centers affect the power grid?14:44 — What actually causes power outages?16:21 — What role do solar and wind play in the grid?18:38 — What are microgrids, and when are they useful?21:18 — How can the power grid be protected from cyberattacks?23:26 — What can everyday people do to support the grid?Mehrizi-Sani is a professor and Bradley Senior Fellow in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is also the director of the Power and Energy Center at Virginia Tech. His latest research focuses on the intersection of power engineering and advanced wireless communications to help shape a resilient, reliable grid of the future.
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Ben Katz
Laura Hamm
Rory Maguire
Tom Mayock
Melissa Wright
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