CSAIL Alliances Podcasts

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 Zuberi 04:43 - What is Deep Tech? 06:16 - Using technology to solve important problems 10:45 - AI granting access to old dreams and new jobs 12:56 - How helpful is AI as a tool? 14:52 - How AI is changing the world 19:04 - Academia’s role in AI 26:09 - The value of venture capital 30:12 - How AI will influences jobs 33:46 - 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-team On 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

Polina Golland, an MIT Professor of electrical engineering and computer science, explores the symbiosis of AI and medical imaging. She reveals how advanced algorithms can enhance radiology without replacing skilled professionals. The discussion delves into transforming images into quantifiable data, improving diagnosis and treatment for conditions like heart failure. Insights reveal the necessity of adapting AI to clinical workflows and the potential disruption it brings to traditional radiologist roles, with a focus on patient outcomes.

Walter Sun, Senior VP and Global Head of AI at SAP, discusses the transformative role of generative AI in business. He explains the development of a generative AI hub with access to over 30 large language models and how smaller models can outperform larger ones in specific tasks. Walter shares insights into empowering employees through 'AI Days' and the importance of minimizing hallucinations through fine-tuned agents. He also emphasizes the need for trust and transparency in enterprise AI systems, shaping the future of industry strategies.

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-aware Learn more in Dr. Miller’s book, Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology: https://www.christophermiller.net/books Connect 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-team On X: x.com/csail_alliances On 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 Telematics The realities of traffic accidents How your phone can track your driving safety Turning your data into a narrative The corrosive effects of phones Learn 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-team On X: https://x.com/csail_alliances On 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 images Why computer vision is revolutionizing species identification The ethical dilemmas behind conservation decisions How 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-beery Connect with CSAIL Alliances: On our site: https://cap.csail.mit.edu/about-us/meet-our-team On X: https://x.com/csail_alliances On 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 future Real-world studies on AI’s impact in the workplace Why AI helps some workers more than others The “credibility revolution” in measuring ROI What companies get wrong about scaling AI Whether writing—and even coding—will still matter in 10 years Andrew 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-team On X: https://x.com/csail_alliances On 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