Making AI Possible

Caltech CTME

Welcome to the Making AI Possible Podcast—your new monthly deep dive into the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and how they’re shaping the world around us. Produced at Caltech in Pasadena, California, this series features in-depth conversations with the people driving AI innovation forward. This podcast series features the latest AI advancements with some of the brightest minds in the field, such as groundbreaking research from AI industry leaders, labs here on campus, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which Caltech manages for NASA. Discover how cutting-edge research is being applied to transform and streamline healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and finance. Each episode explores the "how" behind AI breakthroughs and the "why" that drives innovation—from lab to enterprise. Whether you're a technologist, strategist, or decision-maker, Making AI Possible offers rare insight into how advanced AI systems are built, governed, and applied in the real world. Tune in to discover how the latest research becomes transformative technology.

  1. ÉPISODE 1

    Making AI Possible-Adversarial Uses of Artificial Intelligence-January-2026

    Adversarial Uses of Artificial Intelligence "We don’t fear AI because it’s smarter than us. We fear it because it doesn’t care about us." Welcome to the Making AI Possible Podcast—your monthly deep dive into the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and how they’re shaping the world around us. Produced at Caltech in Pasadena, California, this series features in-depth conversations with the people driving AI innovation forward. In our first Making AI Possible episode of Season 2, Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin, sits down with Rob Petrosino, AI Consultant for the US Government, to explore the challenges of AI. Adversarial uses of AI represent a fundamental shift in the security landscape, where threats are no longer isolated, human-paced, or easily detectable, but instead scalable, automated, and designed to manipulate trust itself. Rob Petrosino draws on his work advising the U.S. government and industry leaders to explain how AI-powered deception, influence operations, and machine-speed attacks are changing what it means to defend organizations, institutions, and society. To secure your spot, register below. We look forward to seeing you there! With over 10 years of experience in emerging technologies, Rob Petrosino focuses on driving innovation and digital transformation. As Chief Innovation Officer at PeakActivity, Rob leads initiatives in generative AI, augmented reality, and machine learning, crafting strategies that integrate cutting-edge technologies into tangible business solutions. His contributions include developing technology roadmaps, exploring intellectual property opportunities, and fostering innovation in collaboration with cross-functional teams. In his role as Artificial Intelligence Consultant for the US Government, Rob focuses on advancing responsible AI adoption and forging partnerships to strengthen national security. His work emphasizes leveraging AI and digital tools to address cybersecurity challenges and create secure communication channels. Passionate about ethical AI implementation, Rob's mission is to harness technology to drive meaningful impact across public and private sectors. ♦ As Caltech CTME's Affiliate Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin intersects strategic program development with hands-on curriculum design, positioning AI/ML education programs at the forefront of technological transformation. Leading the AI programs at Caltech's Center for Technology & Management Education, Nicholas' focus is on delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to a diverse clientele, including private and public sectors, as well as government and non-profit organizations. ♦

    47 min
  2. ÉPISODE 2

    Making AI Possible:Building Inclusive AI: Lessons Learned from Production - Feb 2026

    Making AI Possible:Building Inclusive AI: Lessons Learned from Production - Feb 2026 Welcome to the Making AI Possible Podcast—your monthly deep dive into the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and how they’re shaping the world around us. Produced at Caltech in Pasadena, California, this series features in-depth conversations with the people driving AI innovation forward. In our second episode of Making AI Possible for Season 2, Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin, sits down with Will Croushorn, MBA, a leader behind Wendy’s FreshAi initiative, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping one of the most iconic retail experiences: the drive-thru. Will shares how his team moved from experimental pilots to production-grade systems, the unexpected challenges and “aha” moments along the way, and the technical complexity behind building AI that can operate in noisy, real-world environments at massive scale. We explore how technology is advancing accessibility and inclusion—from language support to physical-ability considerations—and what this democratization of AI means for the future of retail. Will also offers candid advice on measuring ROI in operational AI systems, and a forward-looking view of what’s next as AI begins to mirror the human customer experience. Will Croushorn, MBA currently leads FreshAi at Wendy's, one of the world's largest deployments of generative AI in a physical retail environment. He focuses on taking AI from "hype" to revenue-generating operational reality and produced a 0-to-1 pilot to a mass deployment across 600+ enterprise locations, achieving ~99% order initiation success and ~95% autonomous handle rate. In addition, Will has pioneered the "Digital Drive-Thru," turning offline voice data into structured business intelligence to optimize operations in real-time. He worked in SaaS innovation for logistics and recruiting, and spent 5 years leading international development operations in the Middle East. Will thrives in ambiguity and specializes in translating complex technical capabilities into intuitive, human-centric user experiences. ♦ As Caltech CTME's Affiliate Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin intersects strategic program development with hands-on curriculum design, positioning AI/ML education programs at the forefront of technological transformation. Leading the AI programs at Caltech's Center for Technology & Management Education, Nicholas' focus is on delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to a diverse clientele, including private and public sectors, as well as government and non-profit organizations.

    41 min

À propos

Welcome to the Making AI Possible Podcast—your new monthly deep dive into the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and how they’re shaping the world around us. Produced at Caltech in Pasadena, California, this series features in-depth conversations with the people driving AI innovation forward. This podcast series features the latest AI advancements with some of the brightest minds in the field, such as groundbreaking research from AI industry leaders, labs here on campus, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which Caltech manages for NASA. Discover how cutting-edge research is being applied to transform and streamline healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and finance. Each episode explores the "how" behind AI breakthroughs and the "why" that drives innovation—from lab to enterprise. Whether you're a technologist, strategist, or decision-maker, Making AI Possible offers rare insight into how advanced AI systems are built, governed, and applied in the real world. Tune in to discover how the latest research becomes transformative technology.