TiSB 19 | Abhinav Choudhry | AI Revolution: Transforming Education, Society, and Freedom | Part 1
Date: NaT

In this insightful conversation, Abhinav Choudhry and me explore the impact of AI on various aspects of life, including education, cognitive abilities, and societal issues. We discuss the utility of AI tools, their potential to transform the Indian education system, and the concept of freedom in the AI age. The discussion also touches upon the labor system in Indian society and the existing inequalities.

Abhinav Choudhry is a doctoral student at the University of Illinois, where he is pursuing a PhD in Information Sciences. His academic journey includes a diverse educational background with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Environmental Policy from Cornell University, a Master of Finance and Control (MFC) from the University of Delhi, and a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Computer Science Engineering from Rajiv Gandhi Technological University.

Link to Abhinav's Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CkljGOQAAAAJ&hl=en
Link to Abhinav's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC4wGFh1Bdvpk-ZsuWXMevTg 
Abhinav's Email: ac62@illinois.edu, ac2639@cornell.edu 
Abhinav's Twitter Handle:  @AbhinavChoudhr2
Link to Abhinav's Website: https://abhinavchoudhry.github.io/CV/

Choudhry's research interests are centered around human-centered computing. He is particularly focused on exploring how advancements in technology, including new-age technology and artificial intelligence (AI), ubiquitous computing, and the widespread use of social media, can be leveraged to enhance everyday health and well-being. This indicates a multidisciplinary approach that combines elements of computer science, social sciences, and health sciences to address complex issues related to technology's role in society and individual lives.

One of Choudhry's notable contributions to the field is his co-authored publication titled "I Felt a Little Crazy Following a 'Doll'": Investigating Real Influence of Virtual Influencers on Their Followers," which appeared in the Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction in January 2022. This work delves into the impact of virtual influencers on social media, examining how these digital personas can influence the behavior and perceptions of their followers. The study is indicative of Choudhry's broader interest in understanding the interactions between humans and digital technologies, especially in the context of social media and its implications for health and well-being.
Link to Abhinav’s Research Paper on Virtual Influencers: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3492862

Podcast and Other Links: https://theideasandboxpodcast.com/
Behance Link to My Artwork: https://www.behance.net/theideasandbox
Link to My Substack: https://thecuriousnobody.substack.com/
SoundTrap Link for Music Creation: https://www.soundtrap.com/
Link to App I use to Create Art: https://concepts.app/en/
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theideasandboxpodcast/
My Twitter Handle: @theideasandbox

Links to Soul Curry Express (My debut Tabla Trap Music Album):
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCJurBjisqsbAs7FUBFrKtuQ?si=cfiLMBUzR1oXjzrn
Apple Music:  https://music.apple.com/us/album/soul-curry-express/1736341996
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Ah6naElfqy26NOwJfO49r?si=nsAvo9eFRZKlW0oB1A8F1A

My Trusty Search Engine:
https://www.perplexity.ai/

Chapters:
00:00:00 Start
00:09:10 The Utility of AI Tools vs. Traditional Methods
00:15:19 Flavors and Contexts of AI Tool Usage
00:26:15 Personal Experiences and the Sweet Spot of Using AI Tools
00:27:35 Will AI Tools Lead to Intellectual Atrophy?
00:39:13 AI Systems Understanding Human Aesthetic Preferences
00:50:49 Using AI to Address Specific Language Impairment (SLI)
01:04:22 Cognitive Impairment: Purely Psychological or Not?
01:12:11 The Current State of the Indian Education System
01:19:48 Transforming Education with AI
01:33:15 Room for Social Innovation and Changing Paradigms
01:45:07 Hard Work vs. Dopamine-Based Virtuous Cycles
01:51:21 The Concept of Freedom in the AI Age
01:54:36 Personal Anecdote: Coercive Forces in a Free Society
02:10:42 Can AI Reduce the Size of Government?
02:16:52 The Labor System and Inequalities in Indian Society