At just 30 years old, Emily Katherine Dawson is a triple threat in the tech world: journalist, researcher, and university professor. The Texan is one of those rare minds who can code, critique, and communicate simultaneously.
Q: Let’s start with the big one—why is generative AI such a game changer?
EKD: It’s a game changer because… it changes everything. We’ve had major tech shifts before, smartphones might be the most recent one, but generative AI is quite different. It creates, it mimics our brain (or at least, it tries), and it’s already redefining industries, art, communication… I believe generative AI is the most revolutionary invention since the internet. And we’re only scratching the surface.
Q: You’ve worked at IBM and Alphabet. How did those experiences shape your views on AI?
EKD: They were formative. At IBM, I focused on natural language processing, the early groundwork for what we now see in chatbots. At Alphabet, I got to dive into deep learning models and see the ethical dilemmas up close.
Q: When did you first get hooked on artificial intelligence?
EKD: In college. I was studying journalism, but I took a computer science elective just for fun. I had to build a simple chatbot for an assignment. It was awful, obviously, but the idea that machines could “talk” fascinated me.
Q: Is it true you wrote your latest book entirely in English and then translated it into Spanish yourself?
EKD: ¡Sí! I wanted it to feel authentic to both audiences. Even though Spanish isn’t my first language, the Latino influence in Texas was big enough to practice it. Plus, I wanted the Spanish version to carry my voice.
Q: What do you say to people who are afraid AI will replace human jobs?
EKD: That fear is valid, but don’t stay away from AI just for that. AI will replace some jobs, especially repetitive ones, but it will create new ones as well. The real challenge is making sure people aren’t left behind in the transition. People have to understand that AI has been with us for a long time. It’s more powerful than ever, but that doesn’t mean it’s a new concept.
Q: You teach AI ethics. What’s the most important lesson your students take away from your classes?
EKD: Just because you can build something it doesn’t mean we should. Ethics has to be part of the development from the get-go. Otherwise, we end up with biased, dangerous models.
Q: What’s the biggest myth about AI you’d love to bust?
EKD: That AI is neutral. It’s not, at all. It’s built by humans with all our flaws and biases. We have to address that, or we’ll end up with systems that replicate inequality at scale.
Q: If you could give just one piece of advice to policymakers working on AI regulation, what would it be?
EKD: Talk to actual technologists, not other politicians. Too many laws are written by people who don’t understand how the tech works. We need smart regulation, but it has to be grounded in reality.
Q: What’s your take on ChatGPT and tools like it? Friend or foe?
EKD: A bit of both. There is some value there, but as a researcher, I must say that there are a few risks we have to consider. The key is using it properly. If we treat it like a partner, it’s great. If we offload all critical thinking to it, we’re in trouble.
Q: Do your students use generative AI in their assignments?
EKD: They will tell you otherwise, but I know they do (chuckles). I’d rather teach them how to use it responsibly than pretend it doesn’t exist.
Q: What’s been the weirdest use of AI you’ve seen recently?
EKD: Someone trained a model to generate pickup lines in Shakespearean English. It was hilarious, but I wouldn’t say it was that effective. “Shall I compare thee to a Wi-Fi signal?” wasn’t that good.
Q: Do you worry about AI becoming too powerful?
EKD: Yes, and any expert that says they don’t is either lying or not paying attention. We’re building tools that can influence elections, create deepfakes we end up sharing in social media, and write malware… how on Earth can someone say they are not worried?
Q: What inspired you to become a writer in addition to your work as a scientist?
EKD: Because science without storytelling gets lost. There are amazing ideas out there that go unnoticed because no one can explain them clearly.
Q: Final question: where do you see generative AI in ten years?
EKD: Hopefully, in a place where it’s trusted and understood. It’ll be integrated into every industry—education, healthcare, journalism, you name it. But the real success will be in how human it feels. If we get that right, we’ll look back and say, “That’s when everything changed.”
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