A collaboration between the office of the Associate Provost for AI and the John Nicholas Brown Center for Advanced Study, BrAInstorm: AI Crossing the Disciplines – A Conversation Series pairs Brown faculty members from strikingly different fields of study for lively, extemporaneous and audience-inclusive discussion of the (evolving) roles AI plays in their research and teaching.
John Nicholas Brown Center for Advanced Study
BrAInstorm: AI Crossing the Disciplines – A Conversation Series
BrAInstorm: AI Crossing the Disciplines – A Conversation Series
March 4, 2026
This conversation featured Ellie Pavlick (Briger Family Distinguished Associate Professor of Computer Science, Associate Professor of Linguistics, Associate Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences) and Junehyuk Jung (Professor of Mathematics) and was moderated by Michael Littman, Associate Provost for AI, and Kevin McLaughlin, Director of the John Nicholas Brown Center for Advanced Study (JNBC).
Enjoy the shorts below to discover key moments. Recording of the full conversation is also available.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/kKsvXpjXtI8
AI and mathematicians
Michael Littman and Junehyuk Jung describe how mathematical research is being done with AI, combatting myths that humans will be replaced. (3:00)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/1jcLDeSULb0
Both are fallible
Junehyuk Jung shares his awareness of AI hallucinations. Ellie Pavlick counters with the observation that humans are also fallible. (3:30)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vZmOPM_Emt0
Reasoning Traces in AI
Ellie Pavlick discusses reasoning models in AI.
November 12, 2025
The series' debut conversation featured Loukas Gouskos (Christopher M. Barter Assistant Professor of Physics) and Emily Oster (JJE Goldman Sachs University Professor of Economics) and was moderated by Michael Littman, Associate Provost for AI, and Kevin McLaughlin, Director of the John Nicholas Brown Center for Advanced Study (JNBC).
Enjoy the shorts below to discover key moments. Recording of the full conversation is also available.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/P09Puz_7VBA
Tungsten cubes or centaurs?
Emily Oster discusses the uses and limitations of AI in economics, stating that AI is a tool but should not take over human decision making (2:06)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/aLsFxuJTbbA
Fundamentals come first
Physicist Loukas Gouskos recommends not using AI while learning the fundamentals of physics, advising that there are no shortcuts to success (0:52)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gy3toiN1Lqs
Why teach multiplication?
Michael Littman asks how we can convince students to embrace the struggle of learning and resist the temptation of using AI in their coursework (2:02)
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