Where What If Becomes What's Next

In today’s episode – the first of a two-parter on Healing with Intelligence –  we're exploring how robots, artificial intelligence, and an emerging new technology called quantum science are transforming healthcare by helping doctors to better diagnose, monitor, and treat illness. In part one, we provide a sampling of some of those new technologies – including a head-worn device that can comman...

Welcome to Season 2 of Where What If Becomes What's Next , a podcast from Carnegie Mellon University where we ask the bold questions that will become innovations for the betterment of humanity. You'll hear about breakthroughs at CMU from scientists, researchers, innovators and artists at the forefront of artificial intelligence, robotics, health science and the arts.  With host Randy Scott, every...

While we’re working on Season 2 of Where What If Becomes What’s Next , we’d like to introduce you to a new Carnegie Mellon University podcast - DOES COMPUTE — from our School of Computer Science – where CMU experts, alumni and students along with host Stephanie Stricklen will explore what’s next in computer science, robotics and artificial intelligence. In this sample episode from DOES COMPUTE – t...

Artificial intelligence is already revolutionizing almost every aspect of society.  But what additional advancements will we see in the near future?  And what ethical issues should we address along the way? In this, the second of a two-part episode – and our Season One finale – we explore what’s next for AI in areas such as disaster response, robotics, creativity, health care and transportation. A...

If you think that Artificial Intelligence was recently invented, think again. The roots of AI go back decades, centuries, even to ancient mythology.  So how did AI go from myth to reality? In this, the first of a special two-part episode, we present a brief history of AI.  We start with the first imagined robot in ancient Greece, fast-forward to Alan Turing’s groundbreaking work in computer scienc...

What if paleontologists could create robot replicas of dinosaurs to better understand them – and how they moved – and in turn learn more about us? In this episode, we’re talking about the intersection of paleontology, robotics, and artificial intelligence. That includes paleobionics… an emerging field at Carnegie Mellon University – that uses robotics and soft robotics to help scientists better un...

What if a robot could be a compassionate companion - an antidote to loneliness as we age – and in some cases – help those suffering from dementia? Loneliness among the elderly has become something of an epidemic.  According to a recent national survey, about 37 % of American adults aged 50 to 80 experienced loneliness, and about 34% of respondents said they felt socially isolated. Companion robots...

Robots and artificial intelligence are transforming the healthcare industry, from drug development to surgical procedures to personalized healthcare plans.  In this, the first of a two-part episode, we'll take a big picture look at these transformational technologies and meet a leader in the emerging field of soft robotics, the creation of robots and wearable devices that look, feel, and move...

What’s next for autonomous self-driving cars?  In this episode we explore the development of self-driving autonomous vehicles and the role of AI in improving their reliability, safety, and economic viability. We discuss the history of self-driving vehicles, including the DARPA Challenges which kick-started self-driving automobile development, and the challenges and advancements in the industry. Th...

What does it take to teach a robot to pick an apple? Let’s find out.  In today’s episode, we will explore how AI technologies are helping agriculture solve some of the world’s biggest problems – from world hunger to protecting the environment to a labor shortage down on the farm.   Robots, drones and machine learning are being used by farmers around the world to monitor crop health, soil condition...

Happy 4th of July – from the Where What If Becomes What’s Next podcast team – and Carnegie Mellon University.  I’m your host Randy Scott, and we are giving the team a well-deserved break – and will see you on July 18th with our next episode on how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing agriculture and helping to feed the world. 

What if artificial intelligence and robotics – including  drones – are used to revolutionize disaster response? It's already happening. The use of drones – particularly small consumer drones – has become standard in disaster response due to their affordability and ease of use. AI is used to enhance disaster response by predicting natural weather disasters and helping first responders make bett...

What if AI could discover new black holes and unlock the secrets of the universe?  On this episode, we're diving deep into the cosmos and back in time to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing astrophysics and astronomy at warp speed.  From discovering black holes to modeling the birth of the universe to helping map the sky as part of a new wide-field survey, AI is reshaping ou...

What if AI transformed your job so you had four-day weekends or never even had to work again? The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is poised to dramatically transform the landscape of work. As routine tasks are automated by AI, new efficiencies are created, freeing up time for workers — but what should they do with that time? Use it for higher-level thinking and decision-making? Reduce...

What if AI can help discover new black holes and help scientists unravel the greatest mysteries of our cosmos?   In this preview of an upcoming episode, we journey into space with AI – which is revolutionizing astrophysics, uncovering the mysteries of the cosmos and shaping the future of space exploration.  We’ll show you how AI is helping to discover new galaxies, new exoplanets and black holes t...

What if researchers could run thousands of experiments all at the same time to solve some of the world's greatest problems -- like sickle cell anemia, Alzheimer’s or cancer?  We take you inside what's next for scientific research -- automated science. Automated science is where AI and hands-on robotic experiments power automated research and self-driving labs, while pushing the boundaries...

What if a self-driving robotic vehicle or drone delivered your next package? Artificial intelligence is transforming how companies deliver packages the “last mile” to your home, the most expensive and time-consuming part of the supply chain.   Companies are using AI to reduce costs and improve sustainability in delivering products to customers. Robotic delivery vehicles, like Refraction AI's R...

What if AI-generated deep fakes could be used to influence our upcoming elections? Generative AI (GenAI) allows users to create realistic images, videos, audio and text, rapidly, cheaply and at scale. These capabilities can be useful, but during elections, they also could be misused to manipulate and deceive voters. Deep fakes have already started to appear in this election season. There have been...

What if AI could be used to help repair and rebuild America’s bridges? America’s aging infrastructure is crumbling, and that includes more than 600,000 bridges with nearly 45,000 considered structurally deficient. Millions of people drive across those bridges each day.  On this episode, we explore how Artificial Intelligence – including robotics and drones – can help keep our nation’s bridges stan...

What if The Beatles used AI to help produce their last song? This episode explores the use of artificial intelligence in music and entertainment.  With a little help from their friend – Peter Jackson’s AI machine – the Beatles rescued John Lennon's voice from a 1970s demo, allowing them to remix and release their last new song - “Now and Then” – nearly 50 years after Lennon first sang it at th...

What if Artificial Intelligence can transform our world for the betterment of humankind?  Introducing WHERE WHAT IF BECOMES WHAT’S NEXT, a new podcast from Carnegie Mellon University.  In Season One, we explore one of the most revolutionary developments in human history — Artificial Intelligence.  Every other Thursday we’ll introduce you to the world’s top experts who work at the forefront of wher...