Where What If Becomes What's Next

Carnegie Mellon University
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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 other Thursday we’ll introduce you to CMU experts and their game-changing stories of innovation. Subscribe so that you'll never miss an episode. For more, info visit: cmu.edu/whatsnextpodcast.

  1. 10 SEPT

    Critical Choices: AI in Disaster Management and Healthcare

    What if AI could help emergency responders make split-second decisions that save lives during disasters? And what if that same technology could be used in healthcare to identify which patients desperately need care before it's too late? In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing emergency response and healthcare decision-making. Host Randy Scott interviews Aarti Singh, a professor in the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University and the director of the National Science Foundation's AI Institute for Societal Decision Making.  Professor Singh discusses breakthrough technologies like the CLARKE System, developed by the Institute’s partner Texas A&M University, which can analyze disaster damage to 2,000 homes in just seven minutes using drone footage and AI, compared to hours or days with traditional methods. The Institute has trained more than 60 emergency managers from 38 agencies on using the CLARKE System for rapid damage assessment and resource allocation during disasters like hurricanes and wildfires.  In healthcare, Singh discusses how AI is addressing the U.S.'s alarming maternal mortality rate—the worst among developed nations—by creating patient risk profiles and prioritizing health care worker interventions or text-message alerts to the maternal patients.  Field tests in India showed a 30 percent  improved patient engagement. The conversation also covers the Institute's work on responsible AI adoption frameworks, emphasizing the importance of accountability, proper training, and human-AI collaboration to ensure these life-saving technologies can be trusted and effectively integrated into real-world emergency and healthcare systems.

    29 min

  2. 27 AUG

    Farm to Future: How Robotics and AI are Revolutionizing Agriculture

    What if robots could pick apples without bruising them, detect diseases in tomatoes before farmers can see them, or even help prevent catastrophic wildfires? In this episode, host Randy Scott speaks with Professor George Kantor from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute. Professor Kantor’s two decades of pioneering work in agricultural robotics are shaping the future of food and sustainability. As the global population races toward 10 billion by 2050, robotics and AI may be key to feeding the world while protecting the planet. Professor Kantor shares breakthroughs in robotic harvesters, disease-detecting drones and robots and AI-driven "digital twins" that simulate and optimize farm operations. He also explains how robots are optimizing specialty crops, balancing labor shortages, and reducing reliance on pesticides and fertilizers with real-time monitoring of nitrogen—all while lowering the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. He explains how robots and drones are helping to prevent wildfires in the Safe Forest program by mapping and then clearing potentially flammable vegetation. Building on last July's Season One discussion about teaching robots to pick apples, Professor Kantor shares new "learning from demonstration" methods where robots learn by analyzing videos of humans performing complex tasks.  The conversation extends beyond the farm to CMU's new Robotics Innovation Center at Hazelwood Green in Pittsburgh, which will be a world-class testing facility for next-generation robots. He also discusses the Girls of Steel Robotics program, which he co-founded 15 years ago and runs through CMU—a K-12 initiative giving students of all genders and ages hands-on robot-building experiences. The program will soon move to the new facility. From apple orchards to tomato greenhouses to wildfire prevention, discover how robotics is becoming agriculture's most essential tool and a source of hope for a resilient and sustainable future for farming.

    31 min

  3. 13 AUG

    Cracking the Cosmic Code: How Software Powers the Rubin Observatory

    Imagine a telescope so powerful it could give us a whole new picture of the cosmos and help answer some of the biggest questions about the universe–if we can handle the data. From a mountaintop in Chile, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is revolutionizing astronomy. The Observatory began capturing images of the entire night sky in June 2025, launching the most ambitious astronomical survey in history. This powerful telescope–with the world’s largest digital camera–generates 20 terabytes of data daily, creating a decade-long "movie" of the cosmos through its Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) initiative. But without the development of innovative software, algorithms and computational systems, much of what the telescope is capturing would be unusable.    In this episode, host Randy Scott talks with Carnegie Mellon University’s Professor Rachel Mandelbaum and Jeremy Kubica, who take us behind the scenes to reveal the computational innovations and interdisciplinary collaborations making this massive data collection scientifically useful. Through the LINCC Frameworks initiative, their team has developed innovative open-source software that enables scientists worldwide to analyze data from the telescope with unprecedented access, collaboration and scale.  Professor Mandelbaum is the interim head of Carnegie Mellon's Department of Physics and CMU's lead for the LINCC Frameworks, and Jeremy Kubica is the Director of Engineering for the LINCC Frameworks. Our conversation explores groundbreaking technologies like algorithms for measuring galaxy shapes and gravitational lensing effects, software for detecting faint and distant moving objects in our solar system that we otherwise couldn’t see, and collaborative tools that bring researchers to the data rather than downloading massive datasets locally.  Over the next ten years, this project will revolutionize our understanding of dark matter, the formation of our solar system, and the fundamental nature of the universe itself. We first reported on the Rubin Observatory in our podcast’s first season in the episode “Stellar Observations: AI’s Journey Into the Cosmos.” The universe is about to reveal its secrets—if our computers can keep up.

    20 min

  4. 30 JUL

    The Science of Sound - Part 2

    The sound of someone chewing can be annoying. But what if only one specific person's chewing bothered you? And what if it went beyond annoyance to actual pain? In this the second of a two-part episode on the Science of Sound, host Randy Scott discusses with Professor Laurie Heller what happens when our brain's relationship with sound goes wrong. Heller is a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, where she runs the Auditory Perception and Cognition Lab. The discussion covers various sound-related disorders including tinnitus, auditory processing disorder, and misophonia—a debilitating condition where certain sounds like chewing trigger intense emotional reactions. Through an engaging demonstration on the podcast, Professor Heller reveals how our brain's recognition of where a sound comes from, rather than its actual acoustics, controls our emotional responses. The episode also examines noise pollution's impact on wildlife, technological innovations such as enhanced virtual reality experiences, and AI's role in creating and detecting fake audio. Professor Heller further discusses what’s next for hearing technology, including better treatments for sound disorders and more sophisticated hearing aids that can adaptively filter environmental sounds.

    25 min

  5. 16 JUL

    The Science of Sound - Part 1

    We live in an increasingly noisy world. Our cities are louder than ever. Our devices can pump dangerous levels of sound directly into our ears. One in eight kids has permanent hearing damage.  And while we count calories and track our steps, most of us have no idea how much acoustic damage we're absorbing every day.  In Part 1 of a two-part episode, we explore the Science of Sound and its profound impact on our lives. Host Randy Scott speaks with Laurie Heller, a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University where she runs the Auditory Perception and Cognition Lab. We speak with Professor Heller about how our brains process sound, the dangers of noise pollution, and the importance of protecting our hearing. The conversation delves into the physiological aspects of hearing and how too much noise can lead to not only hearing loss but other health consequences such as high blood pressure, sleep disturbances and even heart disease. Professor Heller gives us practical tips for safeguarding our auditory health and emphasizes the need for managing a balanced sound environment that promotes hearing safety and well-being.

    21 min

  6. 2 JUL · BONUS

    Happy Fourth of July

    Happy Fourth of July from the Where What If Becomes What’s Next podcast team and Carnegie Mellon University.   As we celebrate independence and look towards the future, our host Randy Scott reflects on the spirit of innovation and forward-thinking embodied by Carnegie Mellon University.  For generations, CMU has been a place for questions, like:  What if we could teach computers to learn? What if we could create art with algorithms? What if we could build robots that transform industries? These weren't just questions; they were the sparks that ignited groundbreaking research, revolutionary technologies, and world-changing ideas.  But the Fourth of July isn't just about looking back; it's about looking forward. And for Carnegie Mellon, the journey from "What if?" is always evolving into "What's Next?" What's next for sustainable energy? What's next for personalized medicine? What's next for the human-AI frontier? As you enjoy your celebrations, take a moment to appreciate the spirit of inquiry and the pursuit of progress. Because between the bold "What if?" and the exciting "What's Next?" – lives the spirit of independence and limitless possibilities!

    2 min

  7. 18 JUN

    The Science of Coping with Stress

    What if instead of avoiding stress we actually leaned into it – and built resilience for next time? In this episode, we speak with Dr. David Creswell, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Carnegie Mellon University, about reframing our relationship with stress. Creswell argues that modern "comfort culture" contributes to rising stress levels because we avoid discomfort that actually builds resilience. He advocates for "equanimity reps" – deliberately engaging with uncomfortable experiences through meditation, exercise, or journaling to train a more resilient brain. His research led to the creation of Equa, an AI-powered meditation app that uses smartphone sensors to track breathing patterns during sessions, providing personalized feedback on mindfulness skill development. Our conversation also explores the future of stress management, emphasizing the role of AI and technology in understanding and improving mental health. Dr. David Creswell is the William S. Dietrich II Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University. He's also a co-founder of Equa Health.

    22 min

  8. 4 JUN

    Game Theory Decoded - Part 2

    In the second part of a special two-part episode on Game Theory, CMU’s Kevin Zollman discusses how the principles of Game Theory can be used for the betterment of humanity – including improving social interactions, addressing complex global challenges like hunger, and improving personal relationships. He emphasizes the importance of changing the game to create positive outcomes and explores the future of Game Theory in relation to AI, technology and social dynamics. Kevin Zollman is the Herbert A. Simon Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Institute for Complex Social Dynamics at Carnegie Mellon University.

    22 min
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Trailers

About

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 other Thursday we’ll introduce you to CMU experts and their game-changing stories of innovation. Subscribe so that you'll never miss an episode. For more, info visit: cmu.edu/whatsnextpodcast.

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