Welcome to AI in Action Podcast

In this episode of AI in Action, Dr. Sidney Shapiro speaks with Dr. Jenny Hayman, educator, researcher, and senior academic leader, about the accelerating impact of generative AI on post-secondary education. The conversation explores how institutions are moving from reactive concerns about academic integrity toward a more strategic focus on AI literacy, critical thinking, and instructional redesign.

Dr. Hayman discusses the reality that students are often early adopters of AI tools, reshaping traditional classroom dynamics and challenging long-held assumptions about expertise. She outlines practical approaches for integrating AI into coursework, including deconstruction exercises, comparative analysis across tools, and structured assignments that prioritize reasoning over output.

The episode also examines equity concerns related to paid versus free AI platforms, the complexity of assessing learning outcomes in an AI-enabled environment, and the importance of teaching foundational skills over tool-specific tactics. Additional topics include bias in training data, copyright implications, AI-assisted research, and preparing graduates for an economy where adaptability and collaboration are essential.

This discussion provides a measured, forward-looking perspective on how educators and institutions can engage generative AI responsibly while maintaining rigor, transparency, and student-centered learning.

In this episode of AI in Action, Dr. Sidney Shapiro sits down with Mahammad Ayan Shaikh, Computer Programming student and CPIN Lab Monitor at Cambrian College, to explore how artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are converging to power the next generation of embedded systems. Drawing from his hands-on experience designing and troubleshooting IoT prototypes, Mahammad discusses how AI enhances connected devices by transforming real-time sensor data into intelligent, autonomous decision-making.

The conversation highlights one of his most ambitious projects: a real-time collision detection and automated emergency notification system. Designed to activate in the event of an accident, the system detects impact, captures GPS location and environmental data, and transmits critical information to emergency contacts or services. Through this example, listeners gain insight into the technical and operational challenges of integrating hardware, sensors, edge processing, and secure data transmission into a reliable safety solution.

Dr. Shapiro and Mahammad also examine broader trends shaping the industry, including the rise of edge computing, increased device-level intelligence, and the shift away from cloud-dependent architectures. They address the growing importance of cybersecurity, encryption, and responsible data governance as IoT devices collect and process sensitive information at scale. The episode further explores the gap between academic prototypes and real-world deployment, outlining the technical, organizational, and talent-related barriers businesses face when adopting AI-driven IoT solutions.

For students and professionals entering the field, Mahammad shares practical advice on building foundational programming skills, working with microcontrollers such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, and gaining hands-on experience through applied projects. This episode provides a grounded perspective on how embedded systems, AI, and IoT are reshaping industries through intelligent automation, real-time responsiveness, and connected innovation.

In this episode of AI in Action, Dr. Sidney Shapiro speaks with Janelle Marietta, PhD candidate, instructor, and nonprofit leader, about the growing role of artificial intelligence in nonprofit organizations, education, and community-based work. The conversation explores how AI tools can help nonprofits address long-standing capacity challenges, improve marketing and donor engagement, and support evaluation and analysis—while also highlighting the risks of over-reliance on automation, biased data, and inauthentic communication. Key topics include ethical considerations in AI adoption, the limits of AI in qualitative and community-engaged research, and the importance of maintaining human-centered approaches in equity-focused and decolonization work. Janelle also discusses the skills nonprofit leaders and emerging professionals need to use AI effectively and responsibly, even in low-resource environments. This episode is particularly relevant for nonprofit leaders, educators, researchers, and students interested in social impact, community development, and responsible AI use.

In this Season 2 premiere of AI in Action, Dr. Jason Satel examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping education, research, and professional expertise. The conversation explores the realities behind AGI hype, the rapid adoption of AI tools in universities, and why traditional assessment and certification models are under growing pressure. Dr. Satel discusses practical approaches to teaching students how to use AI effectively, rather than attempting to prohibit it, and explains why iteration, context, and critical judgment are now core skills. Key topics include AI's impact on higher education and assessment design; teaching AI literacy to students and faculty; the limits of current models in creativity, humor, and context; AI as a research assistant for literature review, coding, and data analysis; hardware constraints, industry–academia gaps, and access to compute; bias, synthetic data, and model alignment; and what AI means for future careers, expertise, and certification. This episode offers a grounded, candid discussion on adapting educational and research practices in a world where AI is becoming a standard tool rather than a novelty.