The Human Conductor: Vibe Coding, Cyber Security, and Real-World Accessibility with Guest Christina Reeser

Computer Science student Jackson Strauss shares his URECA research on student AI usage. The obvious finding is that nearly every student is using artificial intelligence for coursework, but what also came out loud and clear is that human relationships matter even more than technology. Jackson then describes some of his favorite personal use cases and explains why he still writes his own code. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

Wake Forest law students Alex Hernicz and Grace Aronofsky talk to us about what it's like to go through law school with an entire legal team in your pocket, metaphorically of course. They touch on where artificial intelligence can aid in (or hinder) their studies, the mission of the Society for AI and Law, the kerfuffle around data centers, and the future of human lawyers. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

Applied Statistics major, Dan Coyne, gives us an insider's perspective on how Wake Forest students are really using artificial intelligence. He talks about study guides, personal agents, research with professors, completing class assignments, and group projects. He even makes a candid plea to the educators to clarify their AI expectations for student work. Then he leaves us with the outlook that current students have for their future employment prospects. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

Wake Forest School of Business alum, Aaron Cheiffetz, is an executive strategist for the financial services industry. He has spent his career at the intersection of technology and finance advising banking firms on integrating tech platforms, now specializing in artificial intelligence. As a mentor for the Center for the Study of Capitalism, he works with students, faculty, and staff to help map out future career paths. Join us as Aaron teaches us how AI is reshaping the financial world. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

Join alum Tal Feldman as he explains the fascinating geopolitical world of artificial intelligence. From the labs in Beijing to the halls of the US government, he has first hand knowledge of this mind-boggling industry. As an AI insider, Tal has written extensively in many major publications about AI safety, the US-China race, and the what the prevalence of open models could mean for global commerce. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

As "vibe coding" enables anyone to generate software, should everyone be a developer? In this episode, Christina Reeser argues that while AI brings intelligence, only humans bring the wisdom, security awareness, and user empathy required to build reliable systems. She explains how AI can fail screen-reader accessibility tests in real life despite passing on paper, the critical danger of exposing sensitive information such as API keys in AI-generated code, and why developers must act as conductors guiding an AI orchestra. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Kyle Denlinger, Head of Digital Initiatives at Wake Forest University’s ZSR Library, discusses how generative AI is upending traditional models of higher education. Kyle explores the critical boundary between mere information extraction and true learning, explaining why students need the intellectual "friction" of wrestling with difficult material. He also introduces a regenerative vision for open pedagogy and offers practical ways for faculty to co-design transformative learning experiences alongside their students. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

Alli Ajagbe grew up in Nigeria, studied in South Africa and India, and then made his way to Wake Forest to earn his Master's in Business Analytics. Along the way, he went from thinking that using AI was cheating to building solutions with it. He walks us through why the power of "zero to one" with artificial intelligence is both a promise and a risk and confidently tells us to "watch out for my country" as a generation of young Nigerian entrepreneurs are creating their own dreams. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

Computer Science professor Fan Yang walks us through the tangled inner workings of the mind of an AI model. Guiding us on a technical exploration around the fascinating world of artificial intelligence training, testing, and inference, he not only teaches the power of the tools, but also cautions against over-reliance on them. Stick with us and you'll emerge from this audio trip as an expert-level AI researcher. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]

ModPhone founder and Wake Forest alumnus, Kevin Duck, shares the blueprint to launch an AI entrepreneurial venture. He describes how he created the company, how he currently runs it, and some future plans - all with the help of artificial intelligence. For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at [email protected]