Season 2, Bonus Episode | July 2, 2025

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 toward 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!