Jan. 20, 2026
Milton Mueller speaking at the AI Governance and Global Economic Development, an official pre-summit event of the AI Impact Summit 2026.
Ever since ChatGPT’s debut in 2023, concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) potentially wiping out humanity have dominated headlines. New research from Georgia Tech suggests that those anxieties are misplaced.
“Computer scientists often aren’t good judges of the social and political implications of technology,” said Milton Mueller, a professor in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. “They are so focused on the AI’s mechanisms and are overwhelmed by its success, but they are not very good at placing it into a social and historical context.”
In the four decades Mueller has studied information technology policy, he has never seen any technology hailed as a harbinger of doom — until now. So, in a Journal of Cyber Policy paper published late last year, he researched whether the existential AI threat was a real possibility.
What Mueller found is that deciding how far AI can go, and its limitations, is something society shapes. How policymakers get involved depends on the specific AI application.
Defining Intelligence
The AI sparking all this alarm is called artificial general intelligence (AGI) — a “superintelligence” that would be all-powerful and fully autonomous. Part of the debate, Mueller realized, is that no one could agree on the definition of what artificial general intelligence is.
Some computer scientists claim AGI would match human intelligence, while others argue it could surpass it. Both assumptions hinge on what “human intelligence” really means. Today’s AI is already better than humans at performing thousands of calculations in an instant, but that doesn’t make it creative or capable of complex problem-solving.
Understanding Independence
Deciding on the definition isn’t the only issue. Many computer scientists assume that as computing power grows, AI could eventually overtake humans and act autonomously.
Mueller argued that this assumption is misguided. AI is always directed or trained toward a goal and doesn’t act autonomously right now. Think of the prompt you type into ChatGPT to start a conversation.
When AI seems to disregard instructions, it’s caused by inconsistencies in its instructions, not by the machine coming alive. For example, in a boat race video game Mueller studied, the AI discovered it could get more points by circling the course instead of winning the race against other challengers. This was a glitch in the system’s reward structure, not AGI autonomy.
“Alignment gaps happen in all kinds of contexts, not just AI,” Mueller said. “I've studied so many regulatory systems where we try to regulate an industry, and some clever people discover ways that they can fulfill the rules but also do bad things. But if the machine is doing something wrong, computer scientists can reprogram it to fix the problem.”
Relying on Regulation
In its current form, even misaligned AI can be corrected. Misalignment also doesn’t mean the AI would snowball past the point where humans lose control of its outcomes. To do that, AI would need to have a physical capability, like robots, to do its bidding, and the power source and infrastructure to maintain itself. A mere data center couldn’t do that and would need human intervention to become omnipotent. Basic laws of physics — how big a machine can be, how much it can compute — would also prevent a super AI.
More importantly, AI is not one homogenous being. Mueller argued that different applications involve different laws, regulations, and social institutions. For example, the data scraping AI does is a copyright issue subject to copyright laws. AI used in medicine can be overseen by the Food and Drug Administration, regulated drug companies, and medical professionals. These are just a few areas where policymakers could intervene from a specific expertise level instead of trying to create universal AI regulations.
The real challenge isn’t stopping an AI apocalypse — it’s crafting smart, sector-specific policies that keep technology aligned with human values. To avoid being a victim of AI, humans can, and should, put up focused guardrails.
News Contact
Tess Malone, Senior Research Writer/Editor
tess.malone@gatech.edu
Dec. 10, 2025
Pascal Van Hentenryck, A. Russell Chandler III Chair and Professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) at Georgia Tech, director of Tech AI, and director of NSF AI4OPT, was a keynote speaker at AI Festival 2025, held December 1–3 at TU Wien Informatics in Vienna, Austria.
The three-day international festival convened leading researchers, industry experts, and members of the public to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping science, technology, and society. Through keynote talks, panels, and interactive sessions, the event fostered dialogue around emerging AI research, real-world applications, and societal impact.
Van Hentenryck delivered a keynote on “AI for Engineering Optimization” during Day 1: Research, which focused on recent advances in foundational and applied AI. His talk highlighted how AI and optimization methods can be integrated to address complex engineering challenges, with implications for domains such as energy systems, mobility, and large-scale decision-making.
The session was chaired by Nysret Musliu of TU Wien and the Cluster of Excellence Bilateral AI (BilAI).
The research-focused first day of the festival featured discussions on topics including neurosymbolic AI, large language models, explainable AI, AI in science, and automated problem solving and decision-making. Van Hentenryck’s keynote contributed to these conversations by emphasizing the role of AI-driven optimization in advancing engineering design and operational efficiency.
AI Festival 2025 was co-organized by TU Wien, the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CAIML), BilAI—funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)—the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF), and TU Austria. The event underscored the importance of international collaboration across academia and industry in advancing responsible and impactful AI research.
Van Hentenryck’s participation reflects Georgia Tech’s leadership in artificial intelligence, as well as the missions of Tech AI and AI4OPT to advance AI-enabled optimization and decision-making for complex, real-world systems.
Dec. 12, 2025
This new Double Jacket found harmony working a fulltime job as en Environmental Engineer, while obtaining her masters.
Antonia Kopp had planned to become a high school math teacher, but an AP environmental science class set her on a new path that led her to Georgia Tech, where she will become a Double Jacket after graduating with her master’s degree in environmental engineering.
Math was always Kopp’s favorite subject, so even as she sought to learn more about the natural world and how humans interact with it, she wanted to find a program that blended her fascination with numbers and science.
“That’s what propelled Georgia Tech’s environmental engineering program to the top of my list when I was looking at schools,” the Macon, Georgia, native said.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in May 2024, she started her full-time job with Freese and Nichols’ Transmission and Utilities group, designing pipelines and pump stations to convey water and wastewater in and out of metro Atlanta.
Three months later, she returned to Tech to pursue a master’s degree part-time, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of water and wastewater treatment systems and how to develop resilient urban infrastructure.
“When there’s a water main break or a boil water notice is issued, you realize how reliant we are on our water and how lucky we are that when we turn on the taps, we trust what comes out. It would bring the city to a halt without reliable, high-quality water. Using the knowledge I’ve gained at Tech, I want to make sure that continues to be the case,” she said.
Kopp says that Tech’s location in Midtown provides on-the-job education, allowing students to study the challenges and strains on aging infrastructure. As Atlanta’s and other cities’ water pipes reach the end of their life cycles, Kopp believes technology will play an increasingly important role in developing new systems for the next generation.
“Part of my job is taking lessons learned from the past and applying them to improve systems in the future. Technological advancements help us to plan our infrastructure for the present and allow us to account for population growth, climate change, and other factors to ensure these systems last for decades to come,” she said.
With her master’s degree in hand, Kopp intends to work toward earning her Professional Engineer license, allowing her to sign and seal engineering designs.
Kopp wasn’t the first Yellow Jacket in her family. Her brother graduated from Tech with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in civil engineering in 2022 and 2023, but she is proud to be the first woman in her family to earn a STEM degree.
News Contact
Steven Gagliano – Institute Communications
Dec. 05, 2025
Georgia Tech is included in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges for 2026, furthering the momentum from its recognition in last year’s report.
The Princeton Review evaluates colleges based on sustainability initiatives through surveys completed by both administrators and students. These surveys targeted more than 400 institutions, reviewing policies, practices, and programs related to sustainability. The guide also considers factors such as campus renewable energy sources, recycling, conservation, and the availability of academic offerings for students looking to participate in sustainability activities or to major in sustainability-related careers.
Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of Sustainability, emphasized Georgia Tech’s commitment to a sustainable future.
“Georgia Tech remains committed to being an innovative leader in the Southeast. We have advanced the goals outlined in our first comprehensive Climate Action Plan, published last year, and are proud to operate our campus with expanded clean energy strategies, zero-emissions mobility options, and the continued growth of our award-winning EcoCommons.”
These notable advancements were factored into the decision to include Georgia Tech:
- The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, the first Living Building Challenge-certified research and academic building in the Southeast.
- 30 LEED-certified buildings on campus.
- The award-winning EcoCommons, 80 acres of regeneratively designed greenspace.
- Publication of the Institute’s Climate Action Plan.
- A public Climate Story Map.
- The Georgia Tech Arboretum certified as Arbnet Level II.
- The Green Forks initiative, aimed at reducing food waste and supporting student food security.
- New in-vessel composting machine installed for food waste diversion directly on campus.
The Princeton Review highlights the important work of institutions across the country, recommending those included in the report to “students who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a green one.”
News Contact
Timothy Sterling
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
Dec. 03, 2025
For decades, manufacturing has been synonymous with job creation, a pillar of economic growth and stability. Today, the industry is evolving into something far more dynamic: a hub for innovation, sustainability, and purpose-driven careers. Experts say this transformation is reshaping not only what manufacturing looks like but why it matters.
Beyond the Assembly Line: A High-Tech Reality
“People still picture manufacturing as the assembly lines of the early 20th century,” says Thomas Kurfess, executive director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute. “The reality is very different. Modern plants are among the most advanced environments you’ll find, packed with robotics, automation, and data-driven systems. In fact, if you want to see the largest number of robots in one location, it will be at an automotive assembly plant.”
That disconnect between perception and reality is one reason manufacturers struggle to fill roles despite record demand. Kurfess notes that students often overlook manufacturing careers because they assume the work is low tech. “We need to expose educators, parents, and students to what manufacturing truly looks like,” he says. Facility tours and partnerships with technical colleges can help shift the narrative.
Pinar Keskinocak, H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, agrees: “Showcasing innovations like AI-driven automation, 3D printing, and smart factories is key to changing perceptions.”
Green Tech and Digital Transformation
The rise of electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy is accelerating this shift. “Green technology presents a transformative opportunity for U.S. manufacturing,” Kurfess explains. “It is not just about sustainability; it is about national security and global competitiveness.”
These sectors are inherently digital, says Nagi Gebraeel, Georgia Power Term Professor in the College of Engineering. “Green tech manufacturing is being built in an era when advanced digital technologies are mature and widely accessible. Factories are designed from the ground up with automation and sensing embedded, creating highly interconnected systems.”
This evolution demands new skills. The labor force must navigate environments where operational technology and information technology converge. Gebraeel predicts that by 2035, manufacturing leaders will increasingly come from operations and data-driven backgrounds rather than traditional IT.
The Workforce Challenge
Despite the promise of high-tech careers, talent pipelines remain thin. Manpreet Hora, senior associate dean in the Scheller College of Business, points to a “demand-supply mismatch” driven by rapidly changing skill requirements. “Manufacturing now needs workers who combine technical, digital, and soft skills,” he says. “Meanwhile, younger workers often gravitate toward service industries for perceived growth and tech exposure. The manufacturing sector will collectively need to reposition themselves as employers of choice by making their digital tools visible, highlighting career progression, and offering flexible learning pathways.”
Experts agree that education must adapt. Kurfess advocates for a systemwide approach starting in elementary school, while Gebraeel emphasizes integrating AI into curricula and offering modular micro-credentials for upskilling. Hora adds that hands-on training should reflect realities like AI-enabled operations and sustainability-focused processes.
Purpose and Innovation
For younger professionals seeking meaningful work, manufacturing offers more than a paycheck. “These are high-tech, high-impact roles where workers build products that move the world, from aircraft and medical devices to renewable energy systems,” Kurfess says.
To position the industry as an innovation hub, leaders must embrace technologies that enhance efficiency and quality while fostering collaboration across schools, businesses, and government. “Modernizing the image of manufacturing demands aligned messaging and shared investment,” he adds.
Looking Ahead
By 2035, experts envision a workforce fluent in AI, committed to lifelong learning, and working in environments where cyber and physical systems are seamlessly integrated. Manufacturing will remain a cornerstone of economic strength, but its true value will lie in its ability to innovate, adapt, and deliver purpose-driven careers.
Nov. 05, 2025
Diatoms, the beautiful baubles of the sea, boast form and function in ocean ecosystems. (Credit: Adobe Stock)
Yuanzhi Tang
If you know what diatoms are, it’s probably for their beauty. These single-celled algae found on the ocean floor have ornate glassy shells that shine like jewels under the microscope.
Their pristine geometry has inspired art, but diatoms also play a key role in ocean chemistry and ecology. While they are alive, these algae contribute to the climate by drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis, while fueling marine food webs.
Now, a team led by Georgia Tech scientists has revealed that diatoms leave a chemical fingerprint long after they die, playing an even more dynamic role in regulating Earth’s climate than once thought.
In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers found that diatoms’ intricate, silica-based skeletons transform into clay minerals in as little as 40 days. Until the 1990s, scientists believed that this enigmatic process took hundreds to thousands of years. Recent studies whittled it down to single-digit years.
“We’ve known that reverse weathering shapes ocean chemistry, but no one expected that it happens this fast,” said Yuanzhi Tang, professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and senior author of the study. “This shows that the molecular-scale reactions can reverberate all the way up to influence ocean carbon cycling and, ultimately, climate.”
From Glass to Clay
When a diatom dies, most of its silica skeleton dissolves on the seafloor, returning silica to the seawater. The rest can undergo reverse weathering — a process that transforms the silica into new clay minerals containing trace metals, while turning naturally sequestered carbon back to the atmosphere as sediments react with seawater. This recycling links silicon, carbon, and trace-metal cycles, influencing ocean chemistry and stabilizing the planet’s climate over time.
Tang and her team set out to uncover how, and how quickly, reverse weathering happens. Using a custom-built, two-chamber reactor, they recreated seafloor conditions in the lab. One chamber held diatom silica, while the other contained iron and aluminum minerals. A thin membrane allowed dissolved elements to mix while keeping the solids separate.
Using advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, and chemical analyses, the researchers tracked the full transformation from the dissolution of diatom shells to the formation of new clays.
The results were striking. Within just 40 days, the diatom silica became iron-rich clay minerals — the same minerals naturally found in marine sediments.
Tang noted that this rapid transformation means that reverse weathering isn’t a slow background process, but rather an active part of the modern ocean’s chemistry. It can control how much silica stays available for diatoms to grow, how much carbon dioxide is released or stored, and how trace metals and nutrients are recycled in marine ecosystems.
“It was remarkable to see how quickly diatom skeletons could turn into completely new minerals and to decipher the mechanisms behind this process,” said Simin Zhao, the paper’s first author and a former Ph.D. student in Tang’s lab.
“These transformations are small in size but are enormous in their implications for global elemental cycles and climate,” she added.
The results suggest that the influence of reverse weathering on the coupled silicon-carbon cycles may also respond on far shorter timescales, making the ocean’s chemistry more dynamic — and potentially more sensitive to modern environmental changes.
“Diatoms are central to marine ecosystems and the global carbon pump,” said Jeffrey Krause, co-author and oceanographer at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the University of South Alabama. “We already knew their importance to ocean processes while living. Now we know that even after they die, diatoms’ remains continue to shape ocean chemistry in ways that affect carbon and nutrient cycling. That’s a game-changer for how we think about these processes.”
The discovery also helps solve a long-standing mystery about what happens to silica in the ocean, Tang says.
Scientists have long known that more silica enters the ocean than gets buried on the seafloor. The findings suggest that rapid reverse weathering transforms much of it into new minerals instead, keeping ocean chemistry in balance.
From Atoms to Earth Systems and Beyond
The findings offer new data for climate modelers studying how the ocean regulates atmospheric carbon. The research also lays the groundwork for improving models of ocean alkalinity and coastal acidification — key tools for predicting how the planet will respond to climate change. “This study changes how scientists think about the seafloor, not as a passive burial ground, but as a dynamic chemical engine,” Tang said.
Tang sees the study as a powerful reminder of why basic research matters. “This is where chemistry meets Earth systems,” she said. “By understanding how minerals form and exchange elements at the atomic level, we can see how the ocean shapes global cycles of carbon, silicon, and metals. Even molecular-scale reactions within hair-sized organisms can ripple outward to shape planet-level dynamics.”
The team’s next steps are to explore how environmental factors such as water chemistry influence these transformations. They also plan to use samples from coastal and deep-sea sites to see how these lab discoveries translate to natural environments.
“It’s easy to overlook what’s happening quietly in marine sediments,” Tang said. “But these subtle mineral reactions are part of the machinery that regulates Earth’s climate, and they’re faster and more beautiful than we ever imagined.”
Citation: Simin Zhao et al., Rapid transformation of biogenic silica to authigenic clay: Mechanisms and geochemical constraints. Sci. Adv. 11, eadt3374 (2025).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adt3374
Funding: National Science Foundation (OCE-1559087; OCE-1558957)
Nov. 04, 2025
Today, Velocity Startups joins Georgia Tech’s comprehensive commercialization ecosystem, solidifying the Institute’s role as a national leader and premier hub for research commercialization and startup growth. Velocity Startups serves as a bridge between early-stage startup founders who are focused on scaling their businesses and readying themselves for late-stage accelerators such as the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Engage, Fusen, and Atlanta Tech Village within the City of Atlanta.
To support emergent startups, the early-stage accelerator will establish a collaborative facility at The Biltmore in Atlanta’s Tech Square, the national innovation district and dedicated area in the city that fosters community growth and meaningful innovation at the heart of the city’s tech scene.
“Atlanta is where innovation becomes opportunity, and Velocity Startups will make that journey even faster,” said Donnie Beamer, senior technology advisor in the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation. “By connecting entrepreneurs to the critical resources they need to scale, we are fueling more startups, creating more jobs, and driving economic growth. Ultimately, this will secure Atlanta’s place as a top global destination for innovation, investment, and entrepreneurial success.”
As an early-stage accelerator, Velocity Startups provides resources — including mentorship support, space, tools, networks, and infrastructure — to Georgia Tech students, faculty, researchers, and the greater Atlanta community, bridging the gap from spinoff to viable startup. At Georgia Tech, many startups that complete the CREATE-X Startup Launch program and present at the Demo Day event will gain access to Velocity Startups. The accelerator will also offer strategic programming, funding, and access to Georgia Tech’s research resources and serve as a coordinating entity for Metro Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, engaging more than 50 colleges and advocating for policies that support startup success.
“Velocity Startups represents a pivotal step in bringing together the resources, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit within our ecosystems as we look to further establish Atlanta as a top national tech hub. By uniting these elements, Velocity Startups will help startups scale from their first customer to long-term growth,” said Raghupathy “Siva” Sivakumar, vice president of commercialization and chief commercialization officer at Georgia Tech and president of Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures. “This accelerator enables the communities at Georgia Tech and beyond to translate groundbreaking research into high-impact ventures.”
Velocity Startups is a subsidiary of Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures and will operate in partnership with the City of Atlanta. A national search is currently underway for a director to lead the accelerator.
For additional information about Velocity Startups, visit commercialization.gatech.edu/velocity.
News Contact
Georgia Parmelee
Director of Communications
Office of Commercialization
Oct. 23, 2025
Raheem Beyah has been selected as Georgia Tech's next provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, beginning Nov. 1.
Beyah has served as the dean of the College of Engineering and Southern Company Chair at Georgia Tech since 2021. Under his leadership, the College has strengthened its national and global reputation for innovation, research excellence, and student success, earning top-10 national rankings across every engineering discipline.
Known for his mentorship and collaborative leadership, Beyah will assume the role of the Institute's chief academic officer — leading and supporting all academic and related units, including the Colleges, the Library, and professional education. He will also oversee academic and budgetary policy and priorities for the Institute.
"Raheem Beyah's commitment to students, faculty, and staff has always been at the heart of his leadership," said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. "He understands firsthand what they experience — their challenges, aspirations, and the drive that defines a Georgia Tech education. That perspective will make him an outstanding provost and a tremendous partner in advancing Georgia Tech's mission."
An Atlanta native who earned his master's and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Georgia Tech after completing a bachelor's degree at North Carolina A&T State University, Beyah is recognized as a leading expert in network security and privacy.
"What excites me most about Georgia Tech is how we bring different disciplines together to solve real problems," he said. "Innovation happens when engineers work alongside artists, humanists, and social scientists, connecting technology with purpose and people. As provost, I'm eager to continue building those bridges and supporting the incredible creativity that defines this community."
In 2024, Beyah was named a fellow by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). It is the highest echelon of membership in IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to "advancing technology for the benefit of humanity." He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Engineering Education, a lifetime member of the National Society of Black Engineers, and an Association for Computing Machinery distinguished scientist.
Before joining the faculty at Georgia Tech, where he has served in various leadership roles, Beyah was a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at Georgia State University, a research faculty member with the Georgia Tech Communications Systems Center, and a consultant in Andersen Consulting's (now Accenture) Network Solutions Group.
Oct. 22, 2025
Image of Sandra Neuse, vice chancellor of Real Estate and Facilities, University System of Georgia
image of participants from the USG Energy Summit held Oct. 1
On Oct. 1, the Office of Sustainability (a department within Infrastructure and Sustainability) led the second meeting of the University System of Georgia (USG) Campus Energy and Resiliency Group (CERG) summit to further the conversation around energy management for campuses statewide. Six Georgia schools participated: Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Emory University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of West Georgia. Staff from the sustainability, utilities, and engineering departments of each of these schools gathered to discuss setting USG energy targets and best practices for reducing energy use, increasing energy efficiency, and establishing shared resources.
USG Vice Chancellor of Real Estate and Facilities Sandra Neuse was the keynote speaker. “I’m thrilled that the Campus Energy and Resiliency Group has come together organically to share their collective expertise in energy efficiency and sustainability,” she said. “Their focus on establishing energy efficiency targets and collaborating with other institutions across the USG will not only avoid costs — it is an investment in the future and a model for our students, who will be the next generation of leaders.”
The call for the development of the summit was inspired by the potential of collaboration throughout the USG, and the acknowledgment that each university has unique expertise, experience, and insight that can aid in energy management strategies for campuses across Georgia.
The key ideas discussed during the summit included:
- Setting statewide USG energy targets.
- Assessing Energy Use intensity, a metric that measures energy use per square foot per year at a building level.
- Developing a framework for best practices within the USG to share strategies for increasing energy efficiency and conservation.
- Developing standards for how utility data is tracked.
Increasing energy management efforts is critical right now as utility rates continue to rise. Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of Sustainability, presented Georgia Tech’s energy data at the event. “One of the most important aspects of campus sustainability is increasing energy efficiency and setting energy targets to advance progress. We are excited to partner with our peers across USG to share best practices and move this effort forward,” she said.
The Georgia Tech Office of Sustainability plans on continued engagement with other USG campuses across the state, and the next summit is scheduled for Spring 2026 at Kennesaw State University.
News Contact
Tim Sterling
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
Infrastructure and Sustainability
Oct. 20, 2025
The Royal Society of NSW and the Learned Academies are hosting their 2025 Forum, “AI: The Hope and the Hype,” on November 6 at Government House, Sydney. The event will explore how artificial intelligence can deliver real-world benefits while managing its risks.
We’re proud to share that Tech AI’s own Pascal Van Hentenryck, A. Russell Chandler III Chair and Director of Georgia Tech’s AI Hub, will be among the featured speakers—bringing Georgia Tech’s global perspective on building trustworthy, impactful AI systems.
Learn more about the forum: royalsoc.org.au/events/rsnsw-and-learned-academies-forum-2025