Talk Nerdy to Me (AI Edition)

Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, hold great power and are increasingly being adapted across various industries. But in nuclear engineering, that power must come with even greater responsibility. In this talk, I will explore how generative AI could help solve complex engineering problems in one of the most highly regulated industries. Can we trust AI with something as serious as nuclear energy? And if we can, where should we draw the line? Join me to take a closer look at the promises and concerns surrounding the use of generative AI in the exciting world of nuclear energy.

Our robotic scientist has already beaten humans at discovering clean, sustainable fuels—but getting different types of intelligent robots to work smoothly in labs designed for people is still a tricky challenge! In this talk, I’ll take you inside our Autonomous Chemistry Lab, where robots and AI are shaking up the world of scientific discovery! I’ll share how we’re using smart machines to tackle real experiments, the unexpected challenges of getting robots to work in human-designed labs, and how we’re pushing the limits of robotics research to create the ultimate high-tech lab assistants.

From climate change to antibiotic resistance, we need new materials and medicines—fast! AI can speed up chemical discovery, but it’s not perfect. While algorithms predict outcomes quickly, they lack human creativity and intuition, leading to missed breakthroughs. In this talk, I’ll explore how we can keep humans ‘in the loop’ to get the best of both worlds. Plus, we’ll dive into the role of Large Language Models (LLMs)—can they really support scientists, or will they one day replace human thinking in chemical discovery? Let’s find out!