If AI writes the code, what do engineers do?

When AI Writes Faster Than We Can Read: James Davis on MAGE and Making Course Materials AccessibleHost Kristin Malavenda interviews Purdue ECE Professor James Davis about what happens when AI can generate software faster than humans can review it and how this may reshape software engineering. Davis describes building Docable, a beta website that ingests PowerPoint, Word, Excel, PDFs and other formats to produce accessibility-remediated versions aligned with ADA-related DOJ rules and WCAG 2.1 AA, motivated by the high time and cost of manual remediation for STEM course materials. He says AI image understanding can generate detailed alt text and equation descriptions, but scaling required using coding agents (e.g., ChatGPT and Claude) to build a roughly half‑million‑line system in months. To trust agent-written code, Davis introduces Model-based Agentic Software Engineering (MAGE): make obligations explicit as engineering models, then use deterministic alignment checks to validate implementations, treating AI outputs as candidates, not verdicts. He argues this shifts emphasis from syntax-level coding to modeling, validation, and adapting to change, enabling higher-quality software and new small-market tools. 00:00 AI Outpaces Reviewers00:45 Accessibility Deadline Shock02:56 WCAG And Real Costs05:24 ChatGPT As Accessibility Aid06:45 Scaling Beyond One Class10:36 Building Docable Fast12:17 Trusting Agent-Written Code12:38 Models Over Code Reading20:41 MAGE Governance And Alignment24:17 Candidate Not Verdict25:17 Candidates Not Answers25:53 What MAGE Means26:37 Make Tacit Knowledge Explicit28:22 Teach Checks And Alignment29:39 Slide Deck Modeling Example32:34 Human Facing Limits33:08 Machine-Facing Freedom35:25 Sweet Spot And Safety Critical36:28 Docable As Case Study38:54 Are Engineers Obsolete42:37 New Markets And Boutique Tools45:46 Advice For Future Students49:24 Closing Thanks And LinksLink to Jamie's blog on Medium: https://medium.com/@davisjamPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the nation's largest ECE departments and consistently ranks among the best.

State of Purdue ECE: AI in the Classroom, Indianapolis Growth, and New Industry Partnerships Host Kristin Malavenda opens a new season of Engineering Innovations with Purdue ECE head Milind Kulkarni for the annual State of the School update. Kulkarni highlights Purdue ECE’s sustained top-10 rankings, record scale (2,500 undergraduates across West Lafayette and Indianapolis and 1,700 graduate students), and continued expansion in Indianapolis to a junior class. He discusses how AI is reshaping teaching through renewed emphasis on fundamentals (in-class Bluebook exams) and new AI-enabled approaches, including larger design projects and using AI to support ADA accessibility. Student experience is supported through VIP research, an entrepreneurship class with alumni investors, and large-scale opportunities like the 400-student System-on-Chip Design program. New initiatives include an Indianapolis gaming and interactive systems concentration partnered with Microsoft Xbox Game Camp, semiconductor training in the Birck Nanotechnology Center cleanroom, industry-informed AI curriculum updates, an executive MS in AI engineering leadership delivered in Silicon Valley, and Purdue AI Racing’s recent time-trial win and track record. 00:00 Season Kickoff00:33 State of ECE01:12 Growth and Indy Campus02:09 AI in the Classroom04:03 Accessibility with AI04:36 Scaling Student Experience08:25 Hands On Proof09:34 Indy Gaming with Xbox12:29 Purdue Computes Focus15:23 Industry Guides AI Curriculum17:12 Executive MS in Silicon Valley20:51 Looking Ahead and Wrap23:24 Final ThanksPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the nation's largest ECE departments and consistently ranks among the best

Utkarsh Singh on Poisson Bolometers and Nanoscale Infrared Detection at Purdue ECE Host Kristin Malavenda interviews Purdue ECE PhD student Utkarsh Singh about his path from New Delhi to Purdue and his research on nanoscale spintronic devices for long-wave infrared (8–14 µm) detection. Singh explains how nanoscale structures exhibit new physics and can enable smaller, lower-power detectors with different, more digital readout behavior than traditional analog infrared sensors. He describes Poisson bolometers, which treat fluctuations between discrete resistance states as a useful noise signal, measuring changes in switching statistics under infrared radiation rather than minimizing noise. The conversation covers applications including surveillance, biomedical imaging, astronomy, and heat-assisted detection and ranging, as well as challenges in fabrication yield, device fragility, and degradation. Singh also discusses PhD realities, advisor support, a rewarding hardware-readout success, and advice on patience, research experience, self-care, and hobbies like music, working out, and traveling. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:50 Early Interest in Engineering 02:06 Choosing ECE Path 02:47 Why Purdue for PhD 03:49 Research Evolves Over Time 05:15 Nanoscale Devices Explained 06:20 Infrared Detection Basics 07:43 Why Nanoscale Matters 08:44 Poisson Bolometer Concept 11:23 Why Better IR Detection 13:04 Infrared Detector Roadmap 13:43 Nanofab Scale Challenges 15:08 Handling and Device Degradation 16:36 Learning From Failure 17:49 PhD Workday Rhythm 18:41 Research Direction Realities 19:48 Advisor Support Style 21:03 Breakthrough Moments 23:10 PhD Advice and Balance 24:30 Hobbies and Wrap UpPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-eceThe Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University is one of the nation's largest and most highly ranked ECE programs. Purdue ECE prepares the next generation of engineers and technology leaders through world-class education and interdisciplinary research that advances semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, communications, computing, microelectronics and more. With strong industry partnerships and a commitment to innovation, Purdue ECE is helping solve some of the world's most pressing technological challenges.

How to Stop Software Disasters Before They Start: Purdue PhD Paschal Amusuo on Formal Verification, Unit Proofing & Zero Trust In this episode of Engineering Innovations from Purdue ECE, host Kristin Malavenda interviews fifth-year PhD candidate Paschal Amusuo, a Qualcomm Innovation Fellow researching software security with formal verification and runtime defenses. Amusuo shares his path from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to Purdue and explains how memory-safety bugs—like those behind major outages such as the 2024 CrowdStrike incident—can crash systems or enable attackers to steal or alter data. He describes how formal verification differs from testing by mathematically checking whether any input can cause failure, and how his “unit proofing” approach makes these techniques more accessible to software engineers. He also discusses zero-trust design for third-party software dependencies, daily PhD life, mentorship with advisor James Davis, real-world vulnerability disclosures, and advice for prospective PhD students focused on learning and impact.Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurdueECEPurdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and consistently ranks among the best.

Explaining Trustworthy AI & Self-Driving Labs with Purdue PhD Candidate Akshita KamsaliIn this episode of Engineering Innovations from Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, host Kristin Malavenda interviews fifth-year PhD candidate Akshita Kamsali, who works with Professor Avi Kok on deep learning with a focus on computer vision and natural language processing. Akshita shares how her engineering background and Purdue exchange experience led her to pursue a PhD at Purdue, and how her research evolved from optics to AI. She explains her work on understanding and improving the reliability of deep learning models used in sensitive areas such as medicine and security, and discusses her Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory internship exploring large language models for multimodal “self-driving labs,” emphasizing challenges such as safety, security, transparent object sensing, accuracy, and efficiency. Akshita also reflects on the realities of the PhD journey, advising, and career plans.Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

What does it take to turn a big research idea into a real device and a paper in Nature?In this episode of Engineering Innovations, we talk with Purdue ECE PhD student Connor Devitt about research that could help shape the future of 5G and 6G wireless communication. The conversation explores how tunable chip-scale filters work, why they matter for future mobile networks, and what it was like to push this project from concept to fabrication to publication. Along the way, we also get a look at the day-to-day life of a Purdue ECE PhD student, from lab work and device testing to setbacks, breakthroughs and the long road of research.Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Engineering Innovations: The Internet, but Make it QuantumHost Kristin Malavenda interviews Purdue ECE associate professor Joseph Luken about engineering “spooky action at a distance” into real technology, including quantum communication networks and the future quantum internet. Luken explains how the quantum internet would transmit qubits and distribute entanglement, why networking is essential for scaling quantum computing and sensing, and why Einstein objected to entanglement until Bell’s later experimental tests supported quantum predictions. He describes quantum key distribution (QKD), how it detects eavesdropping, and how it contrasts with post-quantum cryptography, arguing for pursuing both given the risk of future quantum attacks. Luken discusses recent industry momentum, predicts fault-tolerant quantum computing may arrive within 10 years, and emphasizes integrated photonics as critical to moving quantum systems off optics tables and reducing loss. Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

AI and Visual Data Compression: Insights from Purdue ECE Professor Maggie Zhu In this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda explores the fascinating world of visual data compression with Professor Maggie Zhu of Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. They discuss how AI is revolutionizing the efficiency of image and video compression, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and how these advancements impact industries ranging from healthcare to entertainment. Tune in to learn about the latest research and future possibilities in AI-driven compression. ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Understanding the Environmental Impact of AI with Dr. Yi Ding Hosted and produced by Kristin MalavendaIn this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda talks to Dr. Yi Ding, an associate professor at Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. They discuss the immense energy consumption of modern AI systems like ChatGPT, which could soon account for up to 12% of US electricity usage. Dr. Ding's research focuses on the broader environmental impacts of AI, including carbon emissions, water consumption, and biodiversity. They delve into how AI models and data centers contribute to these issues and explore strategies for developing sustainable AI systems. Dr. Ding sheds light on policy implications, data transparency, and industry practices that need to change for a more sustainable future. The episode also touches on Dr. Ding's personal journey into this research and her pedagogical approach to mentoring students. 00:00 Introduction to Engineering Innovations 00:14 The Energy Cost of AI 00:32 Meet Dr. Yi Ding 01:00 Understanding AI's Energy Hunger 03:16 Inside Data Centers 04:22 Beyond Energy: Carbon, Water, and Biodiversity 08:26 Dr. Yi Ding's Research Journey 10:32 Balancing Performance and Sustainability 15:00 The Role of Policy and Regulation 16:07 Future of AI and Sustainability 22:18 Mentorship and Personal Insights 27:15 Conclusion and FarewellPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Unpacking Software Supply Chain Security with Dr. Santiago Torres AriasHosted and produced by Kristin MalavendaIn this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda speaks with Dr. Santiago Torres Arias, an assistant professor at Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The discussion examines the complexities and importance of software supply chain security, exploring the various risks and vulnerabilities present in the modern digital landscape. Dr. Torres Arias shares insights about his research projects, including the in toto framework and the Sigstore project, both designed to protect the integrity of software throughout its development and distribution. He also touches on the interplay between cybersecurity and everyday software use, the role of machine learning, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling these challenges. Finally, they discuss practical advice for both consumers and students in the field of cybersecurity. 00:00 Introduction to Engineering Innovations Podcast00:58 Understanding the Software Supply Chain01:52 Dr. Santiago Torres Arias' Journey into Cybersecurity03:06 The Importance of Cybersecurity in Everyday Life08:07 In Toto: Securing the Software Development Lifecycle13:53 The Role of Open Source in Software Security15:54 Exploring the Evolution of Letters and Software Security16:29 Introduction to Applied Cryptography17:47 AI and Machine Learning in Supply Chain Security19:32 Balancing Technology Use and Security Awareness20:52 Future Challenges in Supply Chain Security21:55 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Research23:26 Choosing Academia Over Industry24:37 Qualities of a Good Research Student25:53 Embracing Failure in Engineering27:15 A Journey into Engineering28:27 The Creative Side of Engineering29:06 Personal Hobbies and Decompression29:49 Conclusion and FarewellPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.