Welcome to Building 32 from MIT CSAIL Alliances. Building 32 is the iconic Stata Center, home to the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) where hundreds of curious researchers are building the future of computing. On Building 32, we go behind the research to explore the ideas, breakthroughs, and people behind MIT's largest lab, from technologies already shaping our lives to the discoveries still ahead. Stay ahead of the curve on AI and the future of computing with…
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When The Jetsons imagined life in 2062, Rosie the robot maid seemed like pure science fiction. Today, chatbots can answer questions, analyze data and even crack jokes. But they still can't load the dishwasher. In this episode of Building 32, MIT CSAIL associate professor Vincent Sitzmann explains why building AI that understands and interacts with the physical world is a fundamentally different…
Long before smartphones, social media, or ChatGPT, researchers at MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) helped lay the groundwork for the modern internet. In this episode of Building 32, MIT CSAIL senior research scientist, internet pioneer and former Chief Protocol Architect David Clark reflects on those early days and explains how a network designed to connect…
MIT has a new podcast. Announcing Building 32, from MIT CSAIL Alliances. Behind every technological breakthrough is a story. From email to the fax machine to the Roomba and even OkCupid, innovations that shape our daily lives trace back to MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, or MIT CSAIL. And technology that is years ahead of the market is being developed in CSAIL labs…
Professor Armando Solar-Lezama, MIT CSAIL Associate Director, says there are currently three camps in AI discourse: the utopian thinkers, the alarmists, and the skeptics. And all of them are wrong. Plus, hear his thoughts on AI Agents, neurosymbolic programming, vibe coding, and more. In this conversation, Professor Solar-Lezama explains how "vibe coding" is transforming daily productivity for…
This month we’re featuring a special guest episode from our friends at MIT OpenCourseWare's Chalk Radio. Host Sarah Hansen sits down with Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management and CSAIL PI Andrew Lo for a wide-ranging conversation about money, learning, and making financial advice accessible to everyone. Andrew Lo explains why he believes finance is a language we all need to…
What does AI really mean for jobs, productivity, and the future of work? Recorded with a live audience at the MIT Museum! In this special live taping of the CSAIL Alliances Podcast, host Kara Miller explores big questions on AI and the future of work with two MIT researchers leading research on technology and labor—David Autor, MIT economist and coauthor of The Work of the Future, and Neil…
Host Kara Miller sits down with MIT Professor Russ Tedrake, a leading researcher in robotics and AI at CSAIL to explore the rapidly accelerating world of humanoid and intelligent robots. Tedrake takes us behind the scenes of the robotics revolution—from the cultural resistance and skepticism, to the moment everything shifted. Today, major tech leaders are declaring humanoid robots “the biggest…
In this episode of MIT CSAIL Alliances, host Kara Miller sits down with Professor Manya Ghobadi, a researcher and entrepreneur bridging the gap between academia and industry. Ghobadi, who has worked at Microsoft Research, Google, and now leads her own startup Systalyze, explores why so many companies struggle to efficiently deploy AI — and how her team is creating the “AI doctor” enterprises…
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…
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…
AI is transforming radiology, but not at the expense of skilled technicians. In the same way that personal computers and spreadsheets didn’t eliminate accountants, AI is not going to replace radiologists but will instead transform the way they work. MIT CSAIL Professor Polina Golland’s research sits at the intersection of machine learning and healthcare, specifically medical imaging. In this…
In this special crossover episode, we're bringing you a conversation from our friends at Me, Myself, and AI, a podcast by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group. Walter Sun, Senior VP and Global Head of AI at SAP, joins hosts Shervin Khodabandeh and Sam Ransbotham for a deep dive into how SAP is deploying AI at scale across its platforms, from building a generative AI hub with…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The MIT CSAIL Alliances Podcast is collaborating with MIT Sloan’s Me, Myself, and AI podcast to share a special bonus episode this month. Paul Romer once considered himself the most optimistic economist. He rightfully predicted that technology would blow up as an economic driver coming out of the inflation of the 1970s, but acknowledges he did not foresee the inequality that technology advances…
How AI will Change Your Job with MIT Economics Professor David Autor & The Potential of Self-Supervised Learning with CSAIL PhD Student Sharut Gupta Host: Kara Miller Part One: MIT Economics Professor David Autor says that AI is “not like a calculator where you just punch in the numbers and get the right answer. It's much harder to figure out how to be effective with it.” Offering unique insights…
Have we achieved Artificial General Intelligence? MIT CSAIL Professor Manolis Kellis argues yes. Computers can do nearly every intellectual task that humans are capable of and are rapidly tackling the physical tasks. What does this mean for the future of AI integration, regulation, and development? Hear Professor Kellis’ ideas about how businesses can incorporate LLMs (large language models) to…
Associate Professor Marzyeh Ghassemi discusses why, despite its tremendous potential for good, AI must be approached with caution, especially in high risk areas like healthcare. Biases in training data can perpetuate real-world inequalities, providers might rely too much on potentially faulty AI, and tools created for one demographic might not necessarily translate to a different population.…
This month’s podcast is a double feature. First up, Associate Professor and Chief Health AI Officer at the University of California San Diego Karandeep Singh explains the reality of using artificial intelligence for medicine. Professor Singh extrapolates on what works, what doesn’t, and how some challenges are social rather than technical. Plus, MIT CSAIL’s Assistant Professor Andreea Bobu…
Founding Director of the MIT Internet Policy Research Initiative CSAIL Senior Research Scientist Daniel Weitzner says a lack of visibility about how personal data is being used is leading to an erosion of customer trust. However, companies increasingly need to leverage data for analytic advantage, generative AI applications, and more. His research focuses on solutions which would empower consumers…
Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management and CSAIL Andrew Lo believes AI can help everyday consumers make important financial decisions by democratizing access to quality finance advice. His research aims to address the challenges of deploying AI in finance by, for example, answering questions around responsibility and engaging with financial advisors to make sure such tools are…
Princeton Professor Arvind Narayanan, author of "AI Snake Oil," sheds light on the stark contrast between the public perception and actual capabilities of AI. In this podcast, he explores the significant gap between the excitement surrounding AI and its current limitations. Find out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast, at…
Associate Professor Stefanie Mueller, who leads the Human-Computer Interaction group at CSAIL, discusses her groundbreaking research using generative AI for 3D applications. Specifically she explains how generative AI can be combined with mechanical simulation to create stable and personalized 3D models. Find out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast, at…
MIT Professor Daniel Jackson, associate director of CSAIL and the author of The Essence of Software, argues that if your design is flawed, so is your product. In this podcast, Prof. Jackson shares some cases where software design makes or breaks big companies and what can be done to improve software design in the future. Find out more here: cap.csail.mit.edu. If you would like to learn more about…
This week on the CSAIL Alliances Podcast we’re joined by George Westerman, a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Founder of the Global Opportunity Initiative. Westerman discusses the future of AI, the opportunities it presents, as well as some potential pitfalls. Find out more about CSAIL Alliances, as well as a full transcript of this podcast at https://cap.csail.mit.edu/
Today’s generative AI programs know how to write, compose music, and even create works of art. But it learned to do so by training on data made by human creators without asking their permission. As independent artists and giant media companies bring their cases to court, the question is: will all this fundamentally change the human-AI relationship? This week’s podcast is a special crossover…
MIT CSAIL Professors Srini Devadas and Vinod Vaikuntanathan join the CSAIL Alliances Podcast for a conversation about cybersecurity, addressing topics from federated protocols, the importance of data-driven approaches, and how quantum computing could change the landscape. Find out more about Professor Devadas, Professor Vaikuntanathan and CSAIL Alliances here: A transcript of this podcast is also…
On this episode of the CSAIL Alliances Podcast, hear from industry experts Andy Ellis (former Chief Security Officer at Akamai) and Amy Herzog (Chief Information Security Officer, Ads & Devices at Amazon) about what companies should be focused on in a changing security landscape. Ellis and Herzog discuss the role of AI, the future of security, and the importance of maintaining vigilance with…
CSAIL Director Professor Daniela Rus shares insights from her new book "The Heart and the Chip." Professor Rus discusses the past, present and future of how robots shape our lives. For more information on Professor Rus' new book, and to find a full transcript of this podcast please visit cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Hal Abelson has a long history of looking at the importance of Computer Science education and helping shape its future. Listen as he joins Kara Miller in conversation to discuss how AI will shape education moving forward. CORRECTION: Please note, the website in the outro of the podcast should be cap.csail.mit.edu. A full transcript of this podcast will be available at…
CSAIL's Dr. Neil Thompson joins Kara Miller for a conversation on how AI will affect the future of business. Dr. Thompson also shares insights into the race for computing power and how that competition is shaping the landscape of industry. Find more about Dr. Neil Thompson and his research, as well as a transcript of this podcast at…
MIT Professor Thomas Malone sits down with Kara Miller for a discussion about the intersections of business and computer science. Find a full transcript of this podcast and more at cap.csail.mit.edu
MIT Professor Charles E. Leiserson discusses business, education, optimization and the end of Moore's Law with Kara Miller. Find a full transcript of this podcast at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor and Turing Award winner Mike Stonebraker sits down with Kara Miller for a conversation about research and business. They're joined by Gant Redmon, CEO of Hopara, an Agile Digital Twin company that was built at MIT CSAIL. A full transcript of this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Yoon Kim joins Kara Miller for a conversation about the past, present and future of Large Language Models. A full transcript of this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Saman Amarasinghe discusses how Large Language Models like Chat GPT, will alter the future of programming. Professor Amarasinghe also examines how structured data fits into the equation. A transcript of this podcast can be found here: cap.csail.mit.edu
Vivienne Sze is an associate professor in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She's a coauthor of Efficient Processing of Deep Neural Networks. A full transcript will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Armando Solar-Lezama shares his insights on Program Synthesis. A full transcript of this podcast is available at cap.csail.mit.edu
Hear from CSAIL Professor Christina Delimitrou as she outlines advances being made in the cloud computing space. A full transcript of this podcast will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Henry Corrigan-Gibbs shares insights into his research that builds computer systems using ideas from cryptography, computer security, and computer systems. A transcript of this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Sam Hopkins gives an overview of the landscape of high dimensional statistics, and shares some of the research that he and his colleagues at CSAIL are working on to shape it. Professor Hopkins would like to note one correction, when he refers to the "planted clique" problem, it should be "max clique in a random graph". A full transcript of this podcast is available at…
Professor Mengjia Yan shares insights into her cybersecurity research. A full transcript of this podcast will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
Cambridge based visual artist and MIT alumni Karl Sims shares his insights on art, science and business.
CSAIL Professor Arvind details his work in near-storage computing. He explains how he's using flash storage instead of massive amounts of DRAM for big data problems. A transcript of this podcast will be available at cap.csail.mit.edu
MIT Professors Peter Shor and Will Oliver join for a conversation on the current state and future possibilities of quantum computing. A transcription for this podcast can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Professor Neil Thompson explains how the end of Moore's Law will affect the computing stack, and what industry leaders should consider when facing this problem. Accessible captions can be found at cap.csail.mit.edu
