Harvard Data Science Review Podcast

Once the stuff of science fiction, deepfake technology has rapidly become one of the most powerful—and consequential—applications of generative AI, blurring the line between reality and illusion and reshaping how we trust what we see and hear online. This month we delve into this phenomenon with Professor Hany Farid, a pioneer in digital forensics, and Professor Siwei Lyu, whose lab develops state-of-the-art deepfake detection methods.Together, they’ll walk us through the data journey—from the vast raw data sets that fuel synthetic media to the pixel-level signatures that can unmask it. Whether you’re a computer scientist, policymaker, or simply curious about how synthetic content is transforming our information landscape, join us for an in-depth conversation about turning data into both convincing illusions and robust defenses—and learn how we can preserve trust and truth in our rapidly evolving digital world. Our guests: Hany Farid is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, with a joint appointment in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and the School of Information. He is also a member of the Berkeley Artificial Research Intelligence Lab, Berkeley Institute for Data Science, Center for Innovation in Vision and Optics, Development Engineering program, Vision Science program, and is a senior faculty advisor for the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity. Siwei Lyu is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and a SUNY Empire Innovation Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the director of the UB Media Forensic Lab, and founding co-director of the Center for Information Integrity at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York.

This month we explore sleep, which is at the center of some of the most exciting developments in data science and health research. Joining us is Dr. Rebecca Robbins, sleep expert and co-author of Sleep for Success!, whose work explores how we can unlock better sleep and healthier lives. From wearable tech and machine learning to behavioral changes, we explore the evolving landscape of sleep research: what the data says about our changing sleep habits, which modern sleep trends actually work (and which don’t), and how modern science intersects with an ever more tired population. Join us for an eye-opening conversation on the science of sleep. Our guest: Dr. Rebecca Robbins, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an associate scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

This month we are exploring emerging technologies and how they are transforming the way we approach romantic connections. How are AI tools and algorithms changing the way people meet? Can an app actually help you land more dates? And what does all of this mean for the future of dating and long-term relationships? Join us as we talk to two experts who unpack these big questions and share insights on how AI is impacting our love lives. Our guests: Kathryn Coduto, Assistant Professor of Media Science in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations at Boston University. Sean Kim, Head of AI and Machine Learning at AI dating assistant app RIZZ.

Creativity is often believed to be a uniquely human trait, but what happens when artificial intelligence starts to blur the line between human imagination and machine innovation? For this month’s episode, we are joined by four extraordinary guests who are shaping the intersection of art, design, and technology. Together, we dive into how AI reshapes creative fields, from personalized design to algorithmic music. Can machines truly cocreate, or are they just mirroring us? And what does this mean for the future of artistic expression? Join us as we explore these thought-provoking questions on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guests: CJ and Zack formed the music hacker duo DADABOTS when attending Berklee College of Music. From playing in metal, punk, and noise bands and studying composition and programming, they realized machine learning was an even more extreme way to make sound and dove completely into eliminating themselves from music. They cofounded Harmonai, the music research team within Stability AI focused on creating open-source generative AI audio tools, and created Stable Audio, which was listed in TIME Magazine's best inventions of 2023 Nini Hu, designer and art director with over 20 years of experience working with global fashion lifestyle brands and author of AI and Creativity for HDSR. Nini is also the founder of &HER, building customizable bras using AI, eco-friendly fibers, and automated production technology. &HER uses machine learning models to bring body shape and measurements directly to production. Portrait XO, independent researcher and award-winning multimodal artist who researches computational creativity, human-machine collaboration, and explores new formats and applications through innovative audio and visual projects.

The upcoming U.S. presidential race arrives at a time when many Americans are grappling with questions about poll accuracy and data reliability. This month, HDSR is joined by journalists Colby Hall and Leland Vittert for an in-depth look at how the media uses data to report and analyze elections and what past elections can teach us about 2024. We’ll discuss which data points are essential, how technology is reshaping polling and political reporting, what the biggest challenges are that the media faces when covering elections today compared to a decade ago, and which voter demographics could sway the 2024 election results in unexpected ways. Join us as we dive into these pressing questions and more on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guests: Colby Hall, Peabody Award-winning television producer, founding editor of Mediate.com, and media contributor to NewsNation since March 2023 Leland Vittert, chief Washington anchor at NewsNation and host of On Balance with Leland Vittert

In July 2024, we witnessed one of the most significant internet disruptions in history when CrowdStrike released a faulty update to its security servers. This update impacted approximately 8.5 million systems, triggering outages across various sectors, including airlines, banks, stock markets, and even government emergency services. Even once activity was restored, threat actors sought to take advantage of the situation through phishing schemes and other cyberattacks. Though caused by an internal error rather than malicious intent, incidents like CrowdStrike’s outage underscore the growing importance of reliable security measures on technologies that impact daily life. On this month’s podcast, we explore the ins and outs of cybersecurity, how cyberattacks occur, and what steps you can take to protect your data. Our guests: Milena Rodban, independent geopolitical risk consultant and former senior advisor at the National Risk Management Center at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Arun Seelagan, Senior Data Scientist at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

After the 2020 United States presidential election, there were widespread claims that the election was unfair, insecure, and in some instances, outright stolen. This outcry put election officials under intense scrutiny, particularly those in Secretary of State offices across the country. As we approach another presidential election season, it's crucial to address the most significant election safety concerns for the 2024 presidential, Senate, and House races. This month we delve into these issues with Minnesota’s Secretary of State, Steve Simon. How does election reporting function? How will AI influence this election? Is your vote really being counted? This is a special edition of the podcast as Secretary Simon joined us for an HDSR Conversation with Leaders piece. Stay tuned for all of this and more on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guest: Steve Simon, Minnesota’s 22nd Secretary of State