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Where What If Becomes What's Next

Carnegie Mellon University
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Agriculture
Game Theory
Carnegie Mellon University
Future Of Work
Healthcare
Machine Learning
Space Exploration
Job Market
Audio Technology
Workers
Economy
Theater Education
Rising Costs Of Education
Collaboration
Empathy
Technology In Theater
Pneumonia
Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Welcome to Season 3 of WHERE WHAT IF BECOMES WHAT’S NEXT. As Carnegie Mellon University celebrates its 125th anniversary, we’re spotlighting 15 CMU inventions that changed the world. From the origins of AI and robotics to innovations in the arts and sciences, join us as we trace the journey from “what if” to “what’s next.” With host Randy Scott, every other Thursday we’re going behind the scenes w... more

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Artwork for Where What If Becomes What's Next

Latest Episodes

What if the secret to saving the planet was hiding in your hallway and under your kitchen sink?

Matt Rogers, Carnegie Mellon University electrical and computer engineering alumnus, joins us to trace a remarkable career path — from engineering iPods... more

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is now operational, and humanity's view of the universe will never be the same.

In this episode, we return to Carnegie Mellon University’s Rachel Mandelbaum, professor and head of the physics department – and ... more

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In 2007, an unused key on the phone keypad became the internet's most powerful organizing tool. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Messina, the Carnegie Mellon University alumnus who invented the hashtag – now used more than three billion times ... more

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The smiley face in your last text, the Kevlar protecting first responders, and the Wi-Fi signal connecting us all—where did they actually come from?

Welcome to Season 3 of Where What If Becomes What's Next, where we take you on a journey through 125... more

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Recent Guests

Matt Rogers
Co-founder of Nest; CEO and co-founder of Mill; co-founder of Insight
Nest Labs, Mill, Insight
Episode: Designing for the Planet: The Clever Thermostat and the Odorless Food Recycler
Rachel Mandelbaum
CMU professor and head of the Department of Physics; expert in observatory software frameworks
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Watching the Universe Change: A New Era in Astronomy Begins
Chris Messina
Silicon Valley technologist, product designer, venture capital investor; inventor of the hashtag
Independent/CMU alumnus
Episode: The Birth of the Hashtag: How a Simple Symbol Changed the World
Zico Kolter
Head of the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University and board member at OpenAI
Carnegie Mellon University / OpenAI
Episode: Guiding a Safe Future for AI – Part 2
Andreas Pfenning
Associate professor in the Computational Biology Department and School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on AI-powered methods for disease detection and treatment.
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Unlocking the Future of Gene Therapy
Aarti Singh
Professor in the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the National Science Foundation's AI Institute for Societal Decision Making
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Critical Choices: AI in Disaster Management and Healthcare
George Kantor
Research professor in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Farm to Future: How Robotics and AI are Revolutionizing Agriculture
Jeremy Kubica
Director of Engineering for the LINCC Frameworks
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Cracking the Cosmic Code: How Software Powers the Rubin Observatory
Laurie Heller
Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: The Science of Sound - Part 2

Host

Randy Scott
Host of Where What If Becomes What's Next

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Thought provoking podcast

    Some great episodes on how AI is rocking our world. Thought-provoking.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robster 7
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners likely value informed, expert-led discussions and practical takeaways for business and policy.
Thought provoking podcast plots thoughtful examinations of how AI is evolving and impacting society.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#146
Italy/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#153
France/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#185
Spain/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#200
Ireland/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#201
India/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Watching the Universe Change: A New Era in Astronomy Begins
Q: What is CMU's broader role in training the next generation of scientists for Rubin-era astronomy?
CMU emphasizes interdisciplinary training across computer science, physics, statistics, and ML, teaching students data science and AI-assisted software development so they can work effectively with Rubin's datasets.
Watching the Universe Change: A New Era in Astronomy Begins
Q: What makes the LINCC Frameworks approach essential for handling Rubin's data deluge?
LINCC Frameworks reduces computational cost and makes analysis scalable by providing efficient data storage formats and fast data access. This enables researchers to run complex machine-learning classifiers on billions of light curves, democratizing access to Rubin data.
Watching the Universe Change: A New Era in Astronomy Begins
Q: Can you walk us through how CMU got involved with Rubin Observatory and the LINCC Frameworks collaboration?
CMU joined a longstanding consortium (LSST Discovery Alliance) and has contributed to fundraising and leadership, with a sharp focus on software infrastructure. The LINCC Frameworks team develops data formats and access tools so scientists can run advanced analyses—like light-curve classifications—on enormous datasets without needing bespoke software for every researcher.
The Birth of the Hashtag: How a Simple Symbol Changed the World
Q: What lasting impact do you see for hashtags in an AI-driven world?
Messina argues that hashtags are likely to persist because they are a form of social media poetry that captures zeitgeist and invites participation. He predicts hashtags will continue to co-exist with AI, becoming integrated into search, tagging, and even personal document systems, while remaining a flexible, open-ended means of expression.
The Birth of the Hashtag: How a Simple Symbol Changed the World
Q: Why did you decide not to patent the idea, and what principles guided that choice?
He discusses a money wound from his parents' divorce and a commitment to open-source and open-standards, seeing the hashtag as a cultural propagation tool rather than a moneymaking asset. The goal was to avoid gatekeeping and allow widespread adoption without permission barriers.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Where What If Becomes What's Next

What is Where What If Becomes What's Next about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A tech-forward, interdisciplinary show that explores how cutting-edge science and engineering shape real-world outcomes. Across episodes, conversations span artificial intelligence, machine learning safety, robotics, gene therapy, healthcare tech, and the role of data in astronomy and public policy. Guests from CMU's research community illuminate practical applications—from AI-assisted healthcare and disaster response to agriculture robotics and sound science—while also addressing ethical, societal, and governance considerations. The tone tends to be thoughtful and forward-looking, often translating complex research into accessible implications for industry, academia, and everyday life. A notable strength is the breadth of topics connected ... more

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Recent guests on Where What If Becomes What's Next include:

1. Matt Rogers
2. Rachel Mandelbaum
3. Chris Messina
4. Zico Kolter
5. Andreas Pfenning
6. Aarti Singh
7. George Kantor
8. Jeremy Kubica

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