In this episode of When Tech Meets Ed with Prof. Jie Ren, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Prof. Maria Mercedes (Didith) T. Rodrigo of Ateneo de Manila University about AI equity in learning across cultures. Drawing on Prof. Rodrigo's research in the learning sciences and her experience in the Philippines, they discuss the adoption of AI in education, how educators can balance the use of AI with the need to build foundational skills, and why culture matters in the design of AI-powered learning tools. The conversation also touches on growing concerns about the risks of AI, as well as New York City's recent restrictions on AI use in early education. Finally, they explore how learners from Western and collectivist cultures may engage with AI differently and consider what a more equitable and culturally responsible future for AI in education could look like.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

Correction: At 31:04, Prof. Jie Ren says "long-term economic impact"; the correct phrase is "long-term environmental impact."

As part of our NYC Climate Week special series, AI & the Environment, Prof. Jie Ren continues the conversation by exploring the environmental impact of AI from an economic perspective with Dr. Marc Conte, Professor of Economics at Fordham University. Together, they discuss the concept of externalities and how it applies to AI and the environmental costs associated with data centers and AI infrastructure. They also examine the role of carbon pricing and energy availability in shaping the future of AI development, offering practical insights on how we can balance technological innovation with environmental sustainability.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this NYC Climate Week special series of When Tech Meets Ed with Prof. Jie Ren, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Dr. Adam Orford, a Fordham University law professor and expert in environmental law, about the environmental challenges of AI. They discuss how laws and regulations shape technological innovation, the environmental impact of AI infrastructure such as data centers, and how policymakers can balance AI development with environmental sustainability.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this NYC Fashion Week special episode of When Tech Meets Ed with Prof. Jie Ren, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Yiran (Joy) Guo, a fashion model and Yale computer science graduate, about fashion modeling in the age of AI. They discuss Joy's journey into modeling, her experiences at NYC Fashion Week, the rise of AI-generated models and digital avatars, and how AI is reshaping opportunities for models, designers, and the broader fashion industry. The conversation also explores the future of modeling and the importance of thinking outside the box when pursuing new opportunities.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this episode of When Tech Meets Ed, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Jorge Martinez Navarrete, an Information Technology Officer at the United Nations, about the complexities of deploying AI in large, multinational organizations. They explore his career journey, experiences implementing technology systems, and the evolving policies and governance frameworks that guide tech deployment. The conversation highlights how AI differs from traditional systems, its impact on organizational operations, varying levels of adoption across departments, and key challenges such as data privacy and the choice between open- and closed-source solutions. The episode also offers practical advice for students preparing to enter the workforce in the age of AI.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producers: Olakunle Davies, Hector Madera Jr. Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this episode of When Tech Meets Ed, Prof. Jie Ren sits down with Dr. Mark Silver to explore technology through what he calls "The Consequence Lens." Together, they discuss how technological advancements, from past digital transformations to today's AI, shape and are shaped by both individual behavior and society at large. The conversation highlights the active role users play in adopting and employing technology and examines the trade-offs between benefits and (often unintended) negative consequences, such as privacy violations. Drawing on real-world examples, they offer practical insights and guidance for students and professionals to think more critically about the broader implications of the technologies they use and how they use them.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren is joined by cybersecurity expert Dr. Shoufu Luo to explore the evolving intersection of AI and cybersecurity, particularly in detection and response. They discuss how AI is used in both defensive and offensive contexts across industries, the growing role of social engineering and human factors, whether AI can replace human judgment in security, and how students can prepare for cybersecurity careers in the age of AI.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren is joined by creativity expert Dr. Kai Wang to explore the intersection of AI and creativity. They discuss what creativity truly means beyond the arts, why it matters in everyday problem-solving and innovation, how AI can augment creative work while keeping humans in the loop, and what advice students can follow to cultivate creativity in the age of AI.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Hector Madera Jr., Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon